Oklahoma Family In Florida Bracing For Hurricane Matthew

An Oklahoma family is stuck in Orlando, Florida because of Hurricane Matthew. They are safe, but it’s been quite an experience.

News 9 spoke to the Desai’s while they were sheltered-in-place.

“We were freaking out for a little bit last night not knowing how bad it was going to be,” said Vik Desai. He and his wife Jenny are in Orlando with their two children. They are there for business and to visit family. A hurricane was not on their radar until they arrived.

“Probably between 8 and 10 o’clock, it was pretty heavy rain off and on, then gusts of wind earlier this morning were pretty significant,” said Jenny.

They said the city of Orlando declared a curfew from 7:00 p.m. Thursday until Saturday morning. While that curfew has been lifted, Jenny said it was a surprise to them. “Once they tell us stay at home or you could be arrested for being out in the streets, then it’s like this is a real possibility.”

As Oklahomans from Woodward, the Desai’s are no strangers to natural disasters, but they say the preparation for a hurricane is different than preparing for a tornado. They went to the grocery store and stocked up with enough food for five days.

Although Orlando isn’t in the eye of the hurricane path, the family has been keeping close tabs on the news, some of which was quite frightening. Residents in specific counties were told to evacuate. If the residents chose to ride out the hurricane, they were asked to notify authorities of their next of kin.

Seeing the damage and death tolls rise, Jenny and Vik are thankful their family is safe. “This shifted to the east. If it had shifted to the west the same amount, it would have been pretty bad even in Orlando.”

The Desai’s were supposed to return to Oklahoma on Friday, but their flight was canceled because of Hurricane Matthew. They are hoping to arrive home safe on Monday.

10/7/16 Related Story: Oklahoman's Head South To Help Hurricane Matthew Victims