WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Hurricane Ian, one of the vital highly effective storms ever recorded within the U.S., swamped southwest Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 28, turning streets into rivers, knocking out energy to 1.8 million individuals and threatening catastrophic harm additional inland. Right here in Wisconsin, we’re used to getting ready for a really completely different form of storm. FOX6 Information checked in with Phil Gerbyshak, a former Milwaukee resident now residing in Florida.

FOX6 Information spoke with Gerbyshak Tuesday night time as he ready for the storm. We checked in with him once more Wednesday afternoon after the hurricane made landfall on the coast.

“I don’t need to bundle up,” stated Gerbyshak. 

However there’s different climate to organize for in Florida. 

“Yeah, outdoors in Winter Backyard, nicely, we’re beginning to get climate right here, a bit of precipitation,” he stated.

Gerbyshak, who lived in Milwaukee for 20 years, now lives inland close to Orlando, not anticipating the worst of Hurricane Ian to hit till in a single day into Thursday.

“The grocery retailer, Publix closed at midday in our neighborhood, so it was a zoo,” stated Gerbyshak. 

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He was hunkered down on Wednesday.

“We simply cleaned out below the stairwell, so we’re going to be like Harry Potter and reside below the steps for the subsequent few days if we’ve got to,” stated Gerbyshak. “We’re in all probability going to play some cribbage subsequent, and I wouldn’t be from Wisconsin if I didn’t let you know I had some alcohol to get pleasure from.”

Brad Dachelet, who lives in Inexperienced Bay, has an Airbnb rental property at his mum or dad’s previous home close to Tampa.

“It’s tough figuring out I used to be simply down there final week, and I may’ve prolonged my keep to remain by that,” stated Dachelet. “However a part of me additionally knew I wouldn’t be capable to stop something.”

He is letting pals who’ve been evacuated keep at his property.

“Having family and friends which are all in that space in hits near residence,” stated Dachelet.

He is weathering the storm at his home in Inexperienced Bay.

“We now have our winter climate and our winter storms,” stated Dachelet. “They’ve hurricanes. I’ll take winter climate.”