GIFFORD — Hurricanes don’t scare the Webb family.
The family has put up plywood all over their Gifford home and is ready to ride out Hurricane Irma. Irma, which was a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds Saturday afternoon, is expected to bring some damage to Indian River County on Sunday and Monday.
“I’ve been through (hurricane) Andrew and (hurricane) Frances,” said Ronnie Webb, 62. “I never go anywhere. I’m at home.”
Ronnie Webb chose to ride out Hurricane Irma with his family.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY WEBB FAMILY
He, his wife, daughter and step-kids will be at their home in the 4500 block of 39th Avenue when Irma sweeps through.
Webb, who has lived in Gifford his entire life, said his home had no damage and not that much flooding from previous hurricanes. He said previous hurricanes have caused about 2 to 3 feet of flooding outside of his home with small flooding on the inside of the home.
“Just the floor was wet on the inside,” he said.
Even though meteorologists have warned residents of flooding, Webb isn’t worried.
He dug ditches in his front and back yards so the water can drain. Webb also said his home and other homes in his neighborhood are built on a slope, which will help drain flood waters.
If Irma brings significant damage to the home, then the Webb family will have no choice but to leave, he said.
Gifford resident Celia Brown will be at work helping elderly residents during the hurricane. Brown works at Motel 6 in the 8800 block of 20th Street, Vero Beach, and will be there with her two daughters, 26 and 39 years old, when Irma sweeps through.
Brown said plywood is up at the motel. The motel is currently filled with elderly residents who were staying at two retirement homes at trailer park communities. She stayed to help them.
“We’re all secured,” Brown said.
She has worked there since 2000, when it was operated under a different name, and said she usually goes to the motel when hurricanes pass through.
“I always do this. I did it during Hurricane Frances in 2004 and during Hurricane Matthew in 2016,” Brown said. “I’m fine. I knew from the beginning I was going to work.”
Brown said electricity to the motel is usually restored quickly for power outages.
Her landlord at her Gifford apartment in the 4600 block of 33rd Avenue put up hurricane shutters at her home, she said.
