As Hurricane Milton approached Florida, social media influencer Caroline Calloway made headlines by refusing to evacuate. Despite warnings, Calloway stayed in her Sarasota apartment, saying, “I’m going to die,” and explained she couldn’t drive or fly out. Traumatized by a past hurricane evacuation, she chose to endure the storm in her “hurricane-grade” building.
The storm caused massive flooding and destruction, with a 15-foot storm surge threatening the Gulf Coast. Tampa received months of rainfall in just hours, while Sarasota saw widespread damage.
For 12 hours, Calloway went silent online, worrying her followers. When she finally resurfaced, she simply posted, “I lived,” easing concerns.
Hurricane Milton left at least 16 dead and many areas flooded, a stark reminder of the risks of staying during a storm. Calloway’s decision to remain behind, while controversial, highlighted the dangerous choices some people make during natural disasters.
