Flights from Florida touch down in Chicago before Hurricane Milton hits

CHICAGO - As Florida braces for impact ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, airports across the state are shutting down. Those leaving their homes, now in a hurry to get out of harm's way.

At O’Hare International Airport, there were only a few remaining inbound flights from Florida on Tuesday night—as many had been cancelled or delayed throughout the day.

Tampa International Airport suspended operations at 9 a.m., followed by the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Orlando International Airport is preparing to halt operations at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers has also announced it will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.  

Nationwide, more 715 flights were canceled as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, with most of them originating from airports in Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, and Fort Myers.

"I’ve lived through Andrew; I’ve lived through so hurricanes. And this one is scary," said Margaret Moye, who lives in Miramar, Florida.

With time ticking until Hurricane Milton makes landfall, those who call Florida ‘home’ say the race toward safety is intensifying.

"Evacuate, evacuate, and you just start freaking out," said Celene Evans Galvan, who lives in Naples, Florida.  

"Everyone was just on edge because no one cared where they were going, they just wanted to get out," added Tanya Fedak, a student at the University of Florida.  

Fedak, an Elgin native, says campus-wide alerts were sent on Sunday, notifying students that classes would be cancelled Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

"My flight was scheduled to depart at 7 a.m. but because all the flights in Orlando are so booked, they didn’t have enough crew members, so we were sitting in the airport for like 2.5 hours," said Fedak.

After cancellations and delays, Donna Dunnuck also found herself waiting several hours.

"I’m relieved to be here," said Dunnuck.

Thanks to persistent encouragement from her daughter in Chicago, Dunnuck made it on the last flight out of Sarasota on Tuesday.

"I’m a stubborn old lady and I would have probably stayed," said Dunnuck. "They closed the airport right after we left."

Not willing to risk staying in Florida despite doing it before is Celene Evans Galvan, who is originally from the Windy City.

"I don’t know that my roof will survive, I just want to be safe," said Evans Galvan. "I’m lucky I got on this flight, and he, my dog is lucky he got on this flight."

With friends keeping an eye on her home, Evans Galvan will watch for updates from afar.

"Just glad to be home—Sweet Home Chicago," said Evans Galvan.

The same goes for Moye, who says she knew it was best to flee.

"We’re here visiting family, and so we had planned to come to Chicago. We were hoping that we were still going to be able to come because of the storm. But we were definitely worried because, you know, we were leaving our home and I've got family down there," said Moye.

Despite being more than a thousand miles from home, Florida will remain on her heart and mind while she is away.

"Especially just after Helene," Moye said. "Our thoughts are definitely with everybody who just went through this in Tampa and St. Pete, and especially North Carolina, because normally that’s where we go this time of year. Our heart breaks."

Carriers, including United Airlines, added more flights to their schedules on Tuesday to help accommodate the influx of travelers seeking safety.