Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Ian

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hurricane Ian is causing trouble before even making landfall, as 2.5 million Floridians are under evacuation orders and running to get last-minute supplies.

People have been told to evacuate but some have chosen to ride out the storm and grabbing many items is difficult with store shelves being empty.

"Stores are crazy, there is nothing left, you can't get water anywhere but I stocked up ahead of time so I am fully prepared," Jackie Buffa, who lives in the Fort Meyers area, said.

Buffa said she wouldn't be able to evacuate, even if she wanted to

"I can't go nowhere, I can't get out, it's bumper-to-bumper, no gas to get out." Buffa said. "We filled the bathtubs because once power goes out, water goes out so in order to flush the toilets you have to have water so the bathtubs have to be filled up."

David Crawford, of the Orlando area, said he's not worried but has supplies.

"I'm not real big on hurricanes, I always keep a big supply of water at the house to start but I'm not one that goes out and binge buys so no one else can have it." Crawford said.

Christina Laquiere lives in the area of Clear Water not under evacuation orders, but said evacuating would have been a challenge. Hurricane Ian is her first hurricane experience.

"We have five animals , three of which are old and feeble," Laquiere said. "So it would be a task for us to take all five of us (and) three animals get in a car and drive to kinda ride out the storm,"

If you would like to donate, the American Red Cross is accepting donations.