'My anxiety's through the roof,' says woman who stayed at home for Milton

Chynna and Sterling Perkins, who live in West Tampa, Florida, made the decision to stay at home during Hurricane Milton. With their two large dogs, they were concerned about finding a place to stay if they evacuated. In the days leading up to the storm, they prepared by purchasing canned goods, sandwich supplies, water, and extra dog food. They also filled their bathtubs with water and charged their phones and emergency lamps. Chynna felt that their home was in a safe location, away from the coast and potential flooding. She mentioned, 'We can deal with the aftermath. ' As the storm approached, she shared her experiences through voice notes and calls, detailing how the storm impacted her community. nnOn Wednesday morning, Chynna woke up to a typical grey morning with light drizzle. She and Sterling had spent days getting ready for the storm. They boarded up their windows and secured their home. Chynna said, 'We’re prepared as much as we can be. ' The weather forecasts indicated that Hurricane Milton would bring heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 97 mph. Despite the warnings, Chynna felt safe at home and believed it was better to stay put than to contribute to traffic and congestion on the roads. nnAs the storm drew closer, the weather conditions worsened. Chynna reported that the wind and rain were picking up significantly. She described how the wind was howling and the rain was coming down hard. By the evening, the storm was nearing landfall, and Chynna expressed her anxiety about the situation. She said, 'My anxiety has been through the roof this whole time. ' Despite her fears, she felt confident in her decision to stay home. The next morning, after the storm had passed, Chynna shared that they were safe and that their home had not sustained any damage. She was hopeful that power would be restored soon, as she could hear generators and chainsaws in the neighborhood.