Former, current Schuylkill County residents in Hurricane Ian's path

Amy Marchiano, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·2 min read

Sep. 29—Former and current Schuylkill County residents are experiencing the effects of Hurricane Ian.

The eye of the Category 4 hurricane made landfall at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday near Cayo Costa on the southwest coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds were measured at 150 mph.

Scott Krater, Schuylkill County Communications director, said he is stuck at a hotel in Orlando, where he is on vacation with his wife, Denise.

"We certainly are feeling for the people who actually live here," Krater said

The Kraters departed from Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown, and arrived Saturday at Orlando Sanford International Airport. They visited Disney World on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday until it closed due to the hurricane.

When Krater heard about the storm, he attempted to move up his flight home to Wednesday. After that was canceled, he moved it to Friday, but that was also canceled.

"My goal is to be home by Saturday, whatever that means," Krater said.

Krater said 11 inches of rain were expected. He was watching local TV stations for updates.

Former county residents Cecelia and Barry Boran live in Naples, Florida.

Cecelia was the coordinator of health services at Penn State Schuylkill, and Barry was a dentist in Minersville. They have lived in Florida for about five years.

"We stayed because it was supposed to go through Tampa," Cecelia said.

Cecelia said wind gusts at a nearby golf course measured 113 mph. She said the power had been out for about a half hour as of 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. According to poweroutages.us, 814,139 customers were without power as of 3:26 p.m.

Cecelia said her backyard looked like a lake. A storm surge was inundating Gulf Shore Boulevard, about 6 miles west and south of their home.

"We're going to have a lot of cleaning to do," she said.

Cecelia said they bought supplies Tuesday. Water and D batteries were in short supply.

Also preparing for the storm was Scott Thomas, a former member of the Pottsville Area school board, who now lives in Valrico, Florida, about 20 miles east of Tampa.

Thomas works as a regional human resources manager with ProMedica Senior Care and lives with his fiancée, Gresly Thomlison.

"Right now, the wind is getting heavy," he said at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Thomas said a small tree near his house snapped from the winds.

He said he went to buy supplies but found that some food, including bread, were scarce.

"I would compare this to getting ready for a snowstorm," Thomas said.

Mike Muncy, owner of Muncy Glass Lock & Door in Pottsville, has a condo in Orlando. He said he wasn't too worried.

"I'm not panicking. It's going to be what it's going to be," Muncy said.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023