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Florida residents arrive in Northeast Ohio ahead of Hurricane Irma

Posted at 4:25 PM, Sep 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-08 17:30:40-04

Sally Goulding got off a plane in Akron Friday morning, relieved to be more than 1,100 miles away from her Fort Myers home, but nervous at the same time.

"It's certainly going to be better here than it is in Florida," she said. "I'm worried about what's going to happen to my home."

Goulding was picked up by her daughter, Elizabeth Wilkerson, who was stressed after a delay caused her mom to miss connecting flight in Akron on Thursday.

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"I just wanted to physically see her and know she's here and okay," Wilkerson said.

Goudling, 86, booked her flight to Akron earlier in the week and then did what she could to protect her manufactured home.

"I put up storm shutters all around and picked up all the furniture and put it in the garage. That's all I could do."

Unsure of what she will eventually return home to, Goulding made sure to bring her husband's ashes with her to Akron.

The senior has experienced other hurricanes, but Irma looks like it will be the worst.

"It looks like it's dead center," she said.

As of Friday afternoon, parts of Lee County, where Goulding lives, have mandatory evacuations. Other sections are voluntary, but Goulding doesn't understand why anyone would stay.

"I think they're being very naive."

Goulding bought a one-way ticket and isn't sure when she'll be able to return home.

"Property can be replaced, but my mother can't," Wilkerson said.