Marianne Heggstad waits out Hurricane Milton at Norwegian pavilion in Orlando

Marianne Rekdal Heggstad, 24, from Ellingsøya in Ålesund, is among those working at the Norwegian pavilion in Disney World, Orlando, Florida. As Hurricane Milton approaches, she is staying indoors with her fellow Norwegian colleagues, awaiting its arrival. The impending storm has sparked heightened awareness of extreme weather in the area.

“We noticed a significant rush in stores, especially for water and toilet paper, and there’s a lot of discussion about the hurricane in the news and on social media,” she shares.

While the hurricane is expected to cause flooding in densely populated areas along Florida’s west coast, Heggstad feels secure in her new apartment near Disney World. Orlando is not predicted to be the storm’s hardest-hit location, but they’ve received guidance to stock up on food, water, and flashlights and remain indoors.

“Stores are closing, buses are stopping. Everything is shutting down. The message is just to stay in our apartments,” she explains.

Heggstad reassures her family back in Norway that she and her colleagues are safe, even though she believes her loved ones may be worried. “I think about everyone back home receiving news about how catastrophic things are in certain parts of Florida. They might not realize that we are relatively safe here,” she adds.

Andrea Hustad, 32, also working at Disney World and living in Florida since January, describes a tense atmosphere. “It feels very intense knowing the hurricane is coming, especially since it’s uncertain where it will hit and its strength.”

Despite having experienced several hurricanes since her arrival, Hustad believes that they will usually come through okay. “I think Milton may be the worst so far,” she acknowledges, adding that they are in buildings designed to withstand hurricanes and tornadoes, providing some reassurance during this stressful situation.