Kiwis brace as hurricanes loom
Mitchell and Joanne Gash and their children are among almost 200 Kiwis caught in the path two hurricanes bearing down on the Caribbean and the United States.
The family live in Jensen Beach, Florida, in the United States, and they’re preparing for the incoming Hurricane Irma.
Hurricane Jose is also tracking towards Florida.
Gash said the house had hurricane windows but he had boarded up windows and doors in case.
He had also been securing items in their yard including his sons’ trampoline.
Their property was about 5 kilometres from the ocean.
The family had also purchased hurricane insurance for about US$2100 (NZ$2900).
His wife, Jo, said the family had survived the Christchurch earthquakes only to find themselves in the path of another disaster.
At least this time they had lots of warning, she said.
They were planning to head to her workplace, a 54-bed rehabilitation hospital, to help out caring for patients and for shelter during the storm.
‘‘We figure this four-year-old building will be stronger than our house.
‘‘We will also have full generator power there for many days,’’ Jo Gash said.
‘‘Our boys are 8 and 7 and they are just excited they don’t have to go to school for a couple of days.
‘‘They haven’t figured out that they might not even have a school when this is done.’’
They would be in lock-down at the hospital from 8am Saturday, local time, with the eye of the storm expected to pass the area about 2am on Monday.
They were essentially waiting to see if their lives were turned upside down, she said. Others were attempting to flee. ‘‘People are panicking and trying to drive out of Florida which only has two major highways, and no petrol left anywhere en route.’’
The family said they wished they could fast-forward to Tuesday and get on with the clean-up, she said.
‘‘I might need some number eight wire to put our house back together too.’’
The Gash family moved to the US after they got sick of dealing with earthquakes in Canterbury.
As an occupational therapist, it was easy for Jo to get work.
They first moved to West Virginia before she was transferred to Florida.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said there were 189 New Zealanders registered with Safe Travel as being in the path of hurricanes Irma and Jose.
‘‘Our advice is to follow any instructions issued by the local authorities, including any evacuation orders, keep their family in New Zealand informed of their well-being and contact their airline or travel agent directly if their travel has been disrupted.’’