The natural disaster bearing down on the Caribbean is prompting massive evacuations from Florida.<\/b>
\n(CBS) \u2013 The effects of Hurricane Irma are being felt here in the Chicago region.
The natural disaster bearing down on the Caribbean is prompting massive evacuations from Florida. Airlines are already canceling flights to southern parts of that state.
At O\u2019 Hare, the luggage and emotional baggage at the United Airlines terminal was packed with a combination of reassurance and worry.
Travelers were arriving from Miami \u2014 some back from vacation, others flying from danger.
\u201cIt\u2019s really nerve-wracking, \u201d one traveler said.
Arrivals were about to be cut back, with American Airlines announcing they will wind down operations on Friday afternoon at their Miami hub \u2014 as well as Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota and West Palm Beach.
Flights will be canceled throughout the weekend, and travel alerts have been issued for more than 30 airports.
Some in Florida are planning to hit the road.
Samantha Jackson moved from LaPorte, Ind. to Sarasota in June. Now, she\u2019s packed her bags \u2014 temporarily moving out \u2014 heading back to the Hoosier State, as an evacuee
\u201cThe drive usually is close to 17 hours, \u201d she says. \u201cWe could arrive sometime tomorrow morning.\u201d
When travel on the ground or air gets back to normal \u2013 that is up to the hurricane.
Meanwhile, a Florida resident who called Chicago home for nearly 30 years doesn\u2019 t plan on leaving her home.
Dawn Yana and her husband live in a North Naples high rise, one that has been through several hurricanes. While many Florida residents head north, the Yanas are staying put.
\u201cThere\u2019s no guarantee that when you do get in the car and try to go away from the storm, that the storm isn\u2019 t going to follow you and you\u2019 re in just as much trouble, \u201d she tells WBBM\u2019s Andy Dahn.<\/p>\n

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