Buffalo native riding out Milton near Tampa [Video]

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) – Staying put or getting out of harm’s way. A difficult decision that millions of people have had to make this week, as jaw-dropping Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida.

Sally Durwald grew up in Lancaster. She now lives and works near Tampa in New Port Richey. She and her husband are riding out the storm at their home.

“We’re about nine miles inland,” Durwald told WBEN on Wednesday morning. “We’re in Zone D, which is not under mandatory evacuation.”

Her home is a new build, which is under more stringent construction standards post-Hurricane Andrew.

“It should be able to withstand 150 mph winds,” she said. “The roof was builtto withstand up to 185 mph winds. We’re pretty confident we’re in a good area.”

It turns out that blizzard preparation in Buffalo is coming in handy for Durwald.

“I’ve lived my whole life in the Lancaster-Buffalo area and went through plenty …