AN Islander living in Florida has spoken to the JEP about the reality of being in the path of Hurricane Milton as it tore across the American state.
The hurricane caused devastation after making landfall, leaving at least four people dead and three million without power.
David Filipponi, a former chief executive at the Bailiff’s Chambers prior to leaving Jersey and moving to Clermont, near Orlando, told this newspaper he experienced a “hairy night” but was “blessed to have escaped the worst of it”.
Mr Filipponi arrived home at about 3pm on Wednesday after doing everything possible to prepare for Milton’s arrival.
Mr Filipponi, who runs a property management and holiday rentals business with his wife, Kathryn, said he and his staff had needed to secure around 50 properties managed by the company.
Although the counties in which the business operates lay away from the coast and outside the evacuation area brought in by the authorities – which encompassed millions of households – hurried action was required ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
“We had guests in around 30 of our units, most of whom from outside Florida, and so wanted to reassure them,” he said. “Any items outside that could have been picked up by the winds needed to be secured – things like barbecues and pool furniture could cause bad damage or injury, but after that we’d done all we can and just had to sit and wait.
“This part of the world is very geared up for this type of weather – it’s part of the fabric of living in Florida, in the same way as New York is ready to clear snow in winter – and there are constant forecasts and information bulletins so people know what to do.”
The hurricane ripped across the Florida peninsula during the night, passing close to Orlando before heading back to sea on the state’s Atlantic Coast.
In a brief update shared yesterday afternoon (GMT), Mr Filipponi confirmed he and his wife were safe after a worrying night.
“It was a hairy night – lots of debris everywhere and we have no power and limited communication,” he said. “We feel blessed to have escaped the worst of it – some folks have suffered much worse.
“The state emergency plans are now in full throw and there will be a lot of work to restore power lines and clear up.”
Footage showed heavy winds battering the east coast as it landed, causing a crane to collapse, destroying part of a building in St Petersburg and ripping the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium.
The hurricane was downgraded to category 1 early yesterday morning as it moved away from the peninsula towards the Bahamas.
Pull-quote: “This part of the world is very geared up for this type of weather – it’s part of the fabric of living in Florida.”
