Hotel Guests and Employees Rescued from Knee-Deep Hurricane Milton Floodwaters: 'Had to Pull Together'
No one was injured at the Holiday Inn in Plant City after floodwaters rose overnight as Hurricane Milton hit Florida
Several people were rescued from a Holiday Inn in Florida after floodwaters rushed into the inland hotel as Hurricane Milton came ashore.
A crew from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office “swiftly rescued” a group of people who were suddenly stranded at the hotel “amid severe flooding in Plant City,” according to a post shared on the department’s various social media pages.
The HCSO said it used amphibious vehicles to rescue the guests and employees. Among them was manager Brenda Coleman, who told CNN she had never experienced a situation like this before.
After the water got to be about a foot deep in the lobby, Coleman ordered guests on the ground level to seek shelter on a higher floor. “We just had to pull together and make sure everybody was safe,” she told the outlet.
Also at the Holiday Inn were lifelong Plant City residents Jack and Liz Gibbs, who have stayed at the hotel during previous storms.
Jack told CNN that he told his wife “We’ve got to do something” after noticing water had entered their room, and was about an inch or two deep.
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The water was about knee deep when the Gibbs’ reached the lobby. Eventually, rescuers came to assist them. “It was scary,” Liz said, “but praise God.”
Many of the survivors were “highly frightened” when the rescue crew arrived, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the clip shared by HCSO.
One individual who was rescued from the hotel had “medical conditions,” according to the sheriff. “I imagine they were quite frightened,” he added.
Related: Viral Florida Man ‘Lt. Dan' Is Safe After Riding Out Hurricane Milton in His Boat
No injuries were reported, according to CNN. Coleman tearfully told the outlet that “it’s hard” for her to see the hotel experience this devastating flooding.
“I’ve been here 14 years, and I’ve never seen it get this high,” the hotel manager said.
Related: How to Help the Victims of Hurricane Milton
At least five people have died after Milton slammed into Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
More than 3.3 million people remain without power in the state as of Thursday, Oct. 10, according to PowerOutage.us.
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