Hurricane first-timer weighs options as Dorian approaches

Floridians are no stranger to hurricanes, but no one forgets their first.

The sounds and sights of a hurricane are all too familiar for native Floridians, but Leah Getts just moved here.

“We moved from Oklahoma, east of Tulsa, but we’re originally from out north; I’m from Minnesota,” she said.

This is her first hurricane season, and Getts doesn’t know what to expect if Dorian approaches her Cape Coral home

“Should we be evacuating? Should we plan to just hunker down,” she asked. “We knew when we were looking at houses this had hurricane shutters. That sounded like a good thing, but now we have to figure out how to use them!”

“Honestly I was nervous because we have a two-year-old and a five-year-old. When you have little ones, you definitely want to keep them safe,” she said.

So she’s following the latest information on the storm. “We use apps: I have the WINK News app.”

And advice on how to prepare. “Figuring out how our shutters work and doing some extra shopping and filling up extra jugs and things we have.”

Until Thursday night when she makes her biggest decision: whether to wait out the storm. or begin evacuating to Oklahoma.

“We’re gonna talk it through tonight and if we’re gonna go, it will probably be like, late tonight we start driving,” said Getts.

Because when it comes to facing her first hurricane, it’s about family and safety first.