AMES, Iowa — For people in Iowa the hurricanes in Florida may seem a long ways away, but there are many Iowans who have moved to the sunshine state or spend time there.

Mark Sobotka of Diagonal, Iowa decided to retire in Lee County, the Fort Myers area. When Hurricane Ian hit in 2022 Sobotka was there. He sustained some property damage, but saw first hand the damage a storm like that can do.

As Hurricane Milton approaches, Sobotka is back home in Iowa, near Diagonal, helping with the family soybean harvest.

“Keeping my eye on things right now in Florida, I touched base with a couple neighbors,” said Sobotka. “They received a mandatory evacuation order just minutes ago and they’re not going to evacuate because they don’t have anywhere to go so they’re staying put on a second floor apartment.”

Pat Clarke is a retired sportscaster, a native of Colfax, who worked in Iowa and in Florida for years. He’s now at his home in suburban Orlando and he said he’s not leaving.

“I have friends from Newton who winter in central Florida,” said Clarke. “They are being evacuated from their condo over in Coco, which is on the space coast so they’re coming to my house.

Clarke moved to Orlando in 1986, after a stint doing sports for KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids. He said coming from Iowa, he learned that in Florida he didn’t need so many sweaters.

“It’s not like we haven’t done this before right? Back in 2004 we had Charlie and Francis and Jeannie,” said Clarke. “They just lined up and they came right through the heart of central Florida, and after the first two you’re not frightened anymore you’re just mad. And, but that’s not to say we aren’t anxious, we’re always anxious when the storm of this caliber comes through central Florida.”

Carroll native, and former Ames resident, Indy Lo moved to Florida four years ago to help build a church. Now, he’s in Gainesville working on an MBA at University of Florida. 

“From what I’ve heard a lot of gas stations are filling up, some closing early because they are just trying to prevent people from trying to rush the gas stations,” said Lo. “They just canceled classes for Wednesday so people are trying to prepare a little early here.”

Lo said he was going to ride out the storm, but now he’s planning an over five hour drive to Atlanta.

Christine Fleming is a Dowling grad and Urbandale Native. Two years ago she moved to St. Petersburg to work as a nursing home manager.

“Storm surges for Hurricane Helene was eight to 10 feet, so if you can imagine, you know, I’m five foot two, and this storm surge is up to 15 feet throughout Saint Pete and other areas along the coastline. Fifteen feet, I can’t even imagine it right now,” said Fleming.

Latest Iowa News: