RI native among millions evacuated from Florida coast

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

One of the reasons Emily Crenca left Rhode Island three years ago was to escape the cold and snow.

Well she’s now facing the other end of the spectrum…her first big Florida hurricane.

Upon warning from Governor Rick Scott, she left behind her home in New Smyrna Beach.

"Everyone’s boarding up…the entire street of Flagler was boarded."

The North Kingstown native had to evacuate her beachside home near Daytona to escape torrential rain, 120 mph winds and the wrath of Hurricane Matthew.

"The Target, the Publix…everything was gone. People were going to Home Depot to get wood…I don’t think anybody took it seriously until people were like ‘oh, this is life threatening’…"

Had she stayed in New Smyrna she probably would’ve been one of the million people who lost power.

Luckily she escaped to safety in Tampa, but says it hasn’t been an easy process.

"My house is made of cement…but…I have no family down here what if I lose everything? I don’t have time to lose everything…so it’s very scary."

She’s waiting it out until the hurricane passes…but is afraid even that won’t be the end.

"I don’t know what I’m gonna come back to…and I’m afraid to go back and eventually get stuck again."

© WLNE-TV 2016