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Some Hurricane Florence evacuees coming to Jacksonville

Florida Welcome Center sign (Steven Ponson)
(Steven Ponson)

As millions continue to prepare for Hurricane Florence as it approaches the Carolinas, some of the people evacuating from Florence's path are heading to Northeast Florida. We called several hotels in Northeast Florida and they tell us they are already starting to see people from the Carolinas stay in their hotels. The Wyndham Garden off I-95 and JTB told us 80% of the people in their rooms are from South Carolina and they are technically sold out of rooms already. It's the same story at the Holiday Inn Express near I-95 and JTB they tell us they are seeing people from both North and South Carolina and similarly at the Country Inn and Suites off I-95 and JTB.

The Red Roof in at Jacksonville International Airport says they only have a few rooms left and most of the people who are starting to show up are from South Carolina. The Quality Inn at JIA says that they are already full for Wednesday and Thursday, And the Jacksonville Plaza Hotel and Suites at JIA says they are starting to see people book for Thursday and Friday. The Holiday Inn Express in Jacksonville Beach says they are completely booked up and the Fairfield Inn and Suites in along I-95 in St. Augustine says they just started booking up suddenly on Tuesday. Despite the many hotels that have evacuees in them, we reached out to Visit Jacksonville, and they say there are still plenty of hotel rooms available in the city.

Some are staying in Northeast Florida, while other evacuees are just passing though. The Florida Welcome Center in Northern Nassau County has people passing though with North Carolina, South Carolina and some Virginia license plates on their cars and trucks. Most of the license plates on those cars had luggage either on the top or inside.

Some people are making the best of the situation and using their time to see friends in Florida. Chuck Simeone from North Myrtle Beach South Carolina says him and his wife are on their way to Orlando.

“Who wants to sit through 155 mile an hour winds and potential massive flooding all over the place.” Simeone says.

He says he also brought his golf clubs to play some golf while away from his town home.

Action News Jax Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says Hurricane Florence is expected to be major blow to the Carolinas as the impacts are expected to be felt there starting Thursday.

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