Ex-Angus woman’s terror at being in the eye of the storm

An Angus expat has recalled the “scariest two hours” of her life sheltering from the ferocious power of Hurricane Irma on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Jennifer Blodgett, whose parents still live in Arbroath, is safe after witnessing first-hand the power of Mother Nature when her St Petersburg home was caught in the path of the devastating storm.

The former Red Lichtie fled with husband Scott to the safety of a friend’s house as Irma was about to strike. They have now returned home but face a major clear-up operation, with power yet to be restored to many storm-hit communities.

Children’s hospital administrator Jennifer, nee Hogan, said: “We followed Irma’s path for four days prior to it hitting us, so started our prep then.

“When it turned and appeared to head straight for the Tampa Bay area, that was when we knew we had to get out of our home, for our own safety.

“We have friends not far from us who have hurricane shutters on all their windows so we headed there – there were nine adults and five dogs in the house.

“We had plenty of water, non-perishable food, batterypowered lighting devices and candles. We knew the power would go out, we just did not know when.”

Jennifer added: “We watched as the rain started, and the winds began to pick up. By 2.30am it was in full force and the noise was deafening.

“From the small glass pane in the door I could see palm trees bent over with their fronds touching the ground, branches and debris being whipped along the ground like tissue paper.”

“It was extremely frightening and the feeling of helplessness was overwhelming.”

Neighbours who were asleep escaped serious injury when a tree came through their roof, leaving the husband with only cuts to his head.

Jennifer Blodgett with husband Scott, and the house of a neighbour which took a direct hit from a falling tree during Hurricane Irma.