Hurricane Irma: she is 35 hours of self in order to escape the Florida

PHOTO BY TOMA ICZKOVITS, QMI AGENCY

Catherine Montambeault

Sunday, 10 September, 2017 15:01

UPDATE
Sunday, 10 September, 2017 15:01

Look at this article

Linda Gingras is arrival completely sold out in Montreal this afternoon after being required to do 35 hours by car and 6 hours by plane to flee the hurricane Irma currently affecting Florida.

• READ ALSO: hurricane Irma strikes Florida
• READ ALSO: Quebecers face Irma in Florida

The woman of Sainte-Thérèse was in Fort Lauderdale for a week with his sister and his brother, at condo.

When it is party to the United States, she had no idea that the hurricane Irma was. “Otherwise, there would have never gone”, she assured during his return to Quebec.

It was only on Wednesday last that Gingras got wind that Irma was approaching. “People were already starting to barricade their houses and shops”, she explained.

The family then decided to drive off to Ohio, where the brother of Linda Gingras owns a house.

“We might be able to get a ticket for a return flight to Friday, but we didn’t want to take any chances,” said the woman of 54 years of age.

“On the eve of our departure, we wanted to go put gas in the vehicle to be certain that you have them. But there was already nowhere.”

Fortunately, the family had managed to find a service station where gasoline was still available the next day.

Heavy traffic

Normally, the journey from Florida to Ohio takes about 18 hours. But this time, it took 35 hours on the road before the Gingras arrive at the destination because of traffic. From Thursday evening to Saturday morning, the passengers are relayed to the steering wheel to avoid stopping too often.

“The cars were bumper to bumper on the highway, told Linda Gingras. The people were in panic, there has been a lot of accidents. It had to take at least two hours before the traffic starts to be less dense.”

After having left their brother at his home in Springfield, Ohio, two sisters are provided for a plane ticket from the airport to Dayton this morning. After a stop in Philadelphia, they are finally asked to Montreal this afternoon.

“I look forward to going to rest,” quipped Linda Gingras, placing his suitcase on the ground.