Rochester residents worry about family, friends in path of Ian

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Hurricane Ian continued to pummel Florida’s shores Wednesday, leaving many within the Med Metropolis very involved.

“I simply hope and pray for all of my household and kin there,” mentioned Rochester Resident Rachel Agyei.

“It’s simply fairly scary to undergo that usually, and we’re right here in Minnesota, and there’s nothing actually for us to do besides pray,” mentioned Rochester resident Chelsea Mckoy.

“It’s loopy to comprehend that that is really occurring to individuals’s properties,” mentioned Rochester resident Hailee Bourdeaux.

With extra footage rolling in of the excessive winds and storm surges ravaging Florida communities, these fears are shortly turning into a actuality. Melanie Tschida says the American Purple Cross department for Minnesota and the Dakotas has greater than 30 volunteers on standby, and a few have already been deployed to Florida

“We need to ensure they’ve a secure place to remain, that they’ve clothes, that they’ve meals, that their primary wants are met,” Tschida mentioned, the manager director of the American Purple Cross in Southeast Minnesota. “It’s an ongoing exercise on our half.”

The group has already setup many shelters all through Florida. Individuals who arrive on the shelters will likely be getting Purple Cross blankets staying on cots, together with receiving different provides. Relying on how dangerous the injury finally ends up being, some evacuees might must sadly get comfy with these preparations.

“These shelters will transition into long run shelters for people whose properties are broken, they usually can’t return to their properties,” Tschida mentioned.

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