Sep 7, 2008 11:04 pm US/Eastern
Evacuees Pack Into F.I.U.
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
Fighting boredom may be the biggest challenge for the evacuees from the Florida Keys. Now that they're out of the hurricane watch zone, they've got nothing more to do than kick back and wait for Ike to blow over.
Hours can seem longer when you're far from the comforts of home. Kids in particular seem to find ways to pass the time.
"Listening to the radio… talking to my Mom and Grandma… and playing videogames," listed Frederick Carter.
For Key West neighbors Destiny and Esmeralda, this is déjà vu all over again. Both girls' families have been through the evacuation drill before. "It's nothing new to us. Just pack a bag. It's worth it to be safe," said Destiny's mother Lisa Jones.
"Wilma… we had to get up early and pack our stuff and go," described Destiny.
Esmeralda Vazquez was pained when she got home, "Our house got flooded and stuff, had to clean it up."
Red Cross volunteers running the shelter at Florida International University's recreation center say they haven't seen as big a crowd since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The first to arrive were special needs evacuees. Folks who need around-the-clock nursing care, those who would be the most vulnerable during a storm, are being housed on the second floor.
Regular evacuees starting arriving late Sunday morning, roughly six to seven hours after the mandatory evacuation order went into effect.
Still, most people there agree that it was a good move. "Where I live is an island," Key West resident Cesar Guzman said, "Water surge is more dangerous, more so than the wind. I would recommend people take refuge when it's offered."
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