Out-of-state students anxious about Ian

Satellite image released by NASA of Hurricane Ian as it surrounds Cuba. Photo Courtesy: NASA

Hurricane Ian is expected to hit the Tallahassee area with tropical storm force winds for
an extended period. The city is predicted to experience steady rainfall of four to six
inches.

At Florida A&M University, there are mixed emotions among students about the
potentially strengthening storm coming to Tallahassee.

Many out-of-state students are concerned and unsure about what to do because they’ve
never experienced a hurricane.

Azariah Richardson, a transfer student from Atlanta, is anxious because this is his first
hurricane experience.

“It’s a new experience for me, and this whole panic is boosting my anxiety. It’s not
something I’ve had to process before. It’s requiring a little bit of focus in terms of how do
I prepare for a hurricane,” Richardson said.

Most in-state students seem to be going with the flow and not concerned about
Hurricane Ian.

Reginald Brown, a junior from Jacksonville, said he has gone through hurricanes and
will take the steps he needs to prepare.

“I’m not worried,” Brown said. “I’m going to get some flashlights and things to eat just in
case the power goes out and some board games to keep me entertained.”

Johnnie Porter, a senior who’s also from Jacksonville, said after experiencing many
hurricanes, he is not worried about the storm.

“I feel like it’s not going to be a big deal,” Porter said. “It’s probably just going to be
heavy rain and floods. You’ll probably see me on my boat down Wahnish Way.”

Some out-state students feel they should not worry about the storm if Florida students
aren’t.

Danyell Johnson, a second-year student from New Jersey, happens to be one of
those students.

“I have no preparations because I feel like a lot of Florida natives aren’t taking it
seriously, so me being clueless, I’m just following suit as far not caring too much about
it, but a part of me does feel unprepared.”

FAMU canceled classes Tuesday through Friday shortly after Florida State University
announced it was not holding classes after Monday this week.

The school has a food drive for students at the Student Health Service Center until
Wednesday. FAMU also has alerted students to stock up on water and non-perishables
and stay inside during the storm. However, many students believe the school’s efforts to
inform and reassure students are insufficient.

Amiya White, a second-year student from Mississippi, said the school is being vague
when informing students.

“The school isn’t giving us much information on what to do, so I don’t feel prepared.
They told us to get water and things like that, but they waited until Sunday Night, so
now everything is sold out,” White said.

“They need to be a little more organized,” Faith Dixon, a health science student from
Tampa, said. “If people need to evacuate, they need to let people know now because
some people don’t live in Florida, and they need to get their traveling arrangements
settled.”

Aurelie Augustin, a first-year student from Broward County, said she was disappointed
in the food drive.

“I don’t think that is enough food for a hurricane. It was a bag with three apple sauces,
a can of chili, bagged milk, and cereal. I put it back because that’s not going to do
anything for me for a three-day hurricane,” Augustin said.

Christina Anderson, a senior from Chicago, said FAMU isn’t taking action fast enough.

“My apartment sent out an email quicker than FAMU did,” Anderson said. “Telling us to
be safe and if we needed anything, then they will be open after hours.”
Other students like Reggie Edward, a business administration student from
Jacksonville, urge their classmates to be alert and aware of their surroundings.

“I just think everybody needs to stay safe because you can get knocked over by these
winds, and be very mindful of the trees,” Edwards said.