CLEVELAND (WJW) – Brandy Lemire was helping people affected by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina when she found out there was an evacuation order in Sarasota, Florida.
“We couldn’t find gas cans, even in Georgia. And then we got into Florida yesterday and we couldn’t find gas,” said Lemire.
She and her family moved to Sarasota from Green, Ohio almost five years ago.
Brandy said her home is about a mile and a half inland, which is right in Milton’s path, so she rushed back early Monday morning.
“When we got into Florida, 75 North was dead stop traffic. If you didn’t leave early Monday morning or Sunday night, you are struggling to get out and there’s no gas,” said Lemire.
More than five million people were urged to leave Florida’s western coast, one of the largest evacuations in state history.
Brandy said they managed to get to a town about 45 minutes away.