Quebecers face Irma in Florida

AFP

Elisa Cloutier

Sunday, 10 September 2017, 10:21

UPDATE
Sunday, 10 September 2017, 10:25

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Armed with provisions, and bottle of water for “at least 5 days,” of Quebecers in Florida are refugees in their homes – some without electricity – while Irma is blowing at more than 150 km/h in the area of Fort Lauderdale.

• READ ALSO: The heart of the hurricane Irma strikes southern Florida, winds of 215 km/h

Nearly 150,000 customers were without electricity in Broward county, in the vicinity of Fort Lauderdale, located nearly 200 km from the eye of the hurricane.

From 7: 30 am Sunday morning, Paul Bilodeau is deprived of current. “There are trees on the road, trees fallen and debris all over the road,” says the one who braved five hurricanes since he remains in Florida in 1999.

Home alone, it is “the shuttle” to walk between his house and that of his girlfriend, located a few meters away. “I am sure that all will go well, my animals are with me, so I’m going to see if everything is correct,” says he, while at least five alerts of tornadoes have been launched since Sunday morning.

To Miami, Jasmine Boisvert-Pelletier is on it makes it wake up very early on Sunday morning by his dog, alerted by the strong winds. “We no longer have electricity for a few hours. We still have alerts of tornadoes, but nothing has affected my home for now”, she said to the Newspaper, before putting his phone to sleep mode to save its battery of cell phone.

“Thank the sky”

In spite of everything, the Quebec contacted by The Newspaper admitted to be relieved of the trajectory of Irma, which in recent hours has deviated to the west coast. “The winds are very intense since this morning, but we would like to thank the sky. However, it is very unfortunate for them [the west coast]. I have friends in Key West and I do not know in what conditions they are going to revisit their home,” says Jacques Méthot, installed at Lauderdale Lake, west of Fort Lauderdale.

Struck by Irma since early Sunday morning, Mr. Méthot says that the worst should soon be behind him. “We are in the worst there, the winds are very very strong, but I notice no buildings damaged. There is debris on the road, but nothing major for the moment,” said the Florida resident, who has the power in his condo, where he was the only occupant.

“Everyone is gone to seek refuge in the north,” says the one who had to stay with him, because of his work. Since hurricane Wilma, he founded his own company, monitoring of condos for foreign residents, especially during a hurricane.