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Evacuees take storm in stride
By MICHELLE JONES © St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 1998 "We are 10 miles south of Englewood and we drove up here because their were no rooms available at the Ruskin Holiday Inn," Dee Hanum said. "We have friends in Ruskin who we wanted to see." Saturday morning, with Hurricane Georges no longer a threat, the Hanums and other South Florida residents who waited out the storm's passage in central Pasco packed and prepared to head for home. "We are thanking God it went the other way," said Mrs. Hanum, who has lived in Florida for 14 years. "We have never gone through anything like this before and we are relieved it is over." Hap and Colleen Harkison, 87 and 70, didn't have to travel as far as the Hanums. They live in a mobile home in Dunedin. This year has been full of firsts for them. "Our first summer in Florida, our first hurricane and our first year to see how hot it is here," said Hap Harkison. "We were in the midst of selling our home when Hurricane Georges came. I just hope the buyers don't back out." Ray and Jenny Warnes considered their evacuation from Clearwater Beach an adventure. "We are on a holiday from Norwich, England," Ray Warnes said. "This turned out to be tame and we are thankful." The management of the beach motel they were staying in volunteered to compensate them, but they declined. "We just want to go back now and get in some golf and shopping," Ray Warnes said. At the Sleep Inn Motel, Robert and Margot Andrews were amazed at all the pets that came with the guests. "There are dogs, cats and even a pet squirrel," said Robert Andrews. "We visited with people in the room next to us and they had two cats." Greg Bullington, a guest service representative at the motel, said people are allowed to bring pets for an added $10 fee. "One lady said she was bringing a large cat and it turned out to be a 130-pound Siberian lynx," Bullington said. "We also had a 250-pound mastiff dog." The extra fee covers special cleaning and pet service after the animals leave. Not all pets have to be brought to motels said John Arias of Pasco County Animal Control. "We pick up pets and keep them for the elderly and handicapped," Arias said, "at no charge for the evacuees." Some pets were left behind when evacuees fled their homes. "I left two cats in my bathroom," said Gail Jordan of the Heathers in Hernando County. "We are in area A and we obeyed the law by leaving." Jordan stayed at the Wesley Chapel Comfort Inn where she said she also saw animals checked in with owners. "'We are very fortunate the hurricane didn't hit," she said, having also left her pets and home. "It's better to be safe than sorry."
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ESLEY CHAPEL -- Early Friday, police told Dee and Earl Hanum to evacuate their Cape Hayes mobile home in South Florida.
