Coast residents prepare for Hurricane Irma

Coast residents are stocking up at supermarkets just in case Hurricane Irma makes an unexpected turn. Since the stormed developed into a category 5 hurricane, some local stores have run out of water.
Parking lots are packed and supplies are selling out because some residents here on the Coast are no stranger to a major hurricane. Gulfport Resident Sherry Cuevas said, “When Hurricane Katrina hit, I had nothing. It was just me. No food and everything for three days and it was hard. It was really rough and I don’t want to go through that again.”
Forecasters predict that Hurricane Irma will continue through the Caribbean and hit Florida Sunday. The hurricane is not expected to come our way. Residents who were filling their carts with emergency items Wednesday just want to be 100 percent prepared. Gulfport Resident Carolyn Helm said, “Katrina, it was supposed to go one way and then it went completely opposite direction and everything.”
Not everyone is stocking up for the hurricane. Gulfport Resident Susan Yurik says if Hurricane Irma gets too close to the Coast she’ll just evacuate. “I remember Katrina and no thank you. I’ll be some place with air conditioning and running water.”
Other shoppers tell News 25 because their occupation is in the medical field, they’d have no choice but to stay if a hurricane hit the Coast.
FEMA does have an emergency preparedness list on their website. At the top of that list is water, food, and batteries. Residents tell News 25 it never hurts to be prepared. “It’s best to be prepared in advance and just have it all done and just get everything taken care of,” said Helm.