A Florida social media personality is defying official warnings by announcing her decision to remain in her residence as a powerful hurricane approaches, threatening widespread destruction.
Caroline Calloway has taken to her social media accounts to reveal her choice to stay despite Hurricane Milton, which has been labeled as the ‘storm of a century’, drawing closer to Florida.
While authorities have urged citizens to evacuate, leading millions to leave the state, Calloway has voiced her reluctance to evacuate again due to a previous negative experience.
In a video uploaded on Tuesday (October 8) and reported by The New York Post, Calloway expressed: “So if you’ve been following Hurricane Milton, um, I’m going to die.
“It’s supposed to make landfall in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. I’m in Sarasota, I live on the water. It’s a zone A, mandatory evacuation.”
Known for her controversial online persona, Calloway, often criticized as the ‘world’s worst influencer’ and labeled a ‘scammer’, cited her inability to drive and the airport’s closure as reasons for remaining at home.
She elaborated: “Third of all, the last time I evacuated for a hurricane, I went to my mom’s house in Northport for Hurricane Ian …
“Her whole street flooded and we were evacuated after three days without power or running water by the US military.
“It was very traumatic and so I don’t want to evacuate to my mom’s house because the last time I did that, it was the worst time ever!”
Calloway stated she had stocked up on food and water but acknowledged the situation was ‘kind of scary’.
“I’ll keep you guys updated,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, Tampa’s mayor, Jane Castor, issued a stark warning to residents contemplating staying through the storm.
She cautioned: “If you are in a single-story home that is hit by a 15ft storm surge, which means that water comes in immediately, there’s nowhere to go. So if you’re in it, basically that’s the coffin that you’re in.”
Calloway’s decision has stirred online debate, with numerous Twitter users pleading with her to leave while there’s still time.
One individual commented: “Caroline, i don’t know you, and what i have heard hasn’t been particularly good, so i need you to trust me when i tell you that you need to put your things in the first bag you find IMMEDIATELY, get in a car, and drive inland as FAST as you can. this is not a joke please be fr??”
Hurricane Milton is anticipated to strike the Tampa area today (October 9), with winds reaching up to 165mph (270km/h).
To help provide food, supplies, shelter, and emotional support to victims of crisis, donations can be made to the American Red Cross here.