ATLANTA — Thanks to reconnaissance by a neighbor who stayed behind, Pam Szymanksi knows Hurricane Irma blew out the living room window of her southwest Florida home, but she isn’t sure when she’ll get to see the damage for herself.
“All I know is we have to check out of here tomorrow, because they’re booked,” she said Monday, sitting in the lobby of a downtown Atlanta hotel where she arrived with her mother, two children and two dogs. A hotel reservation in Valdosta, Georgia, is next, Szymanksi said, but that’s still 350 miles (563 kilometers) from their home in Fort Myers.
“I don’t want to run into closed roads,” she said, “but I want to get home and start cleaning up.”
Szymanski’s family helped make up one of the largest storm evacuation efforts in U.S. history, after Florida Gov. Rick Scott urged more than 6.5 million residents, one out of four of his constituents, to leave.
Now, with Irma advancing inland, a potential reverse migration from across the Southeast raises new worries of jammed roadways amid uncertain gasoline supplies, empty grocery store shelves, standing water and widespread power outages that in heavily damaged areas could last for weeks.
Scott cautioned evacuees not to rush back home.
“Storm impacts can continue well after the center passes,” the governor said from his official Twitter account, asking residents to follow local officials’ advice on when to return. He later retweeted FEMA’s warning that Irma involves “disruptions to daily activities” long after it passes.
That’s not necessarily a message Floridians want to hear, even as they contemplate reliving the daylong and overnight drives they endured just days ago.
Carin and David Atkins of Pinecrest, Florida, were waiting out Irma on Monday, planning to leave their Atlanta hotel Tuesday morning to head back down the Florida peninsula with their children, Molly and Thomas. The Atkinses said they have hotel reservations near Cape Canaveral, more than halfway back to their home outside Miami.
“I’ve called to confirm they have power,” David Atkins said, adding that some businesses near their home have power as well.
Carin Atkins said they can live without power at home for several days, recalling that they went 47 days without power after Hurricane Wilma in 2005. They evacuated, she said, only because of the threat of rising water from a storm surge that didn’t reach to their home.
Other evacuees still aren’t as sure of their return.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
A woman leaves her flooded home the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Fort Myers, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
A family leaves their flooded home in a rural area the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with extensive flooding.
Nicholas Kamm, AFP/Getty Images
A man paddles through a flooded neighborhood in Bonita Springs, Florida, northeast of Naples, on Sept. 11, 2017 after Hurricane Irma hit Florida.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Jizreel Plancher calls out from the back of a truck to see if people need help the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
A couple walk through the flooded streets the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union via AP
An Urban Flood Water Rescue Team with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department makes its way along a flooded street on the Southbank of downtown as Hurricane Irma passes by Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
An electrical worker repairs stop lights the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
The roof of a gas station is shown damaged by Hurricane Irma winds on Sept. 11, 2017 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Yesterday Hurricane Irma hit Florida's west coast leaving widespread damage and flooding.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
People wait in line for a store to open for food and water the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Hotel guests are served breakfast by lamplight as the power remains off at the Courtyard by Marriott one day after Hurricane Irma struck the state Sept. 11, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Irma made landfall as a Category 4 storm twice in the United States on Sunday after tearing a path across islands in the Caribbean Sea.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
Road crews clear debris after Hurricane Irma passed through on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moved up the coast.
Brian Blanco, Getty Images
A large tree is seen laying in the front yard of a home after high winds from Hurricane Irma came through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Fort Meade, Florida. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. yesterday, after raking across the north coast of Cuba.
Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union via AP, The Associated Press
Urban Flood Water Rescue Team 2, with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, makes its way along San Marco Boulevard on the Southbank of downtown as Hurricane Irma passes by Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
A boat is seen washed ashore at the Dinner Key marina after Hurricane Irma passed through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moved up the coast.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
A home is shown damaged after Hurricane Irma hit the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in East Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moved up the coast.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
The Sunrise Motel remains flooded after Hurricane Irma hit the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in East Naples, Florida. Yesterday Hurricane Irma hit Florida's west coast leaving widespread damage and flooding.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
A teen walks through flooded streets the morning after Hurricane Irma swept through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Irma made another landfall near Naples yesterday after inundating the Florida Keys. Electricity was out in much of the region with localized flooding.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
Philippa Regueira returns home through a street littered with downed trees and branches after seeking shelter in a friend's home after Hurricane Irma passed through the area on Sept. 11, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Florida took a direct hit from the Hurricane.
David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP
The Interstate remains empty as the outer bands of Hurricane Irma reached South Florida early Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 in Miami.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
The winds and sea are whipped up off of the Rickenbacker Causeway as two people cross the street in Miami as Hurricane Irma approaches on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
A car sits abandoned in storm surge along North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard as Hurricane Irma hits the southern part of the state Sept. 10, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The powerful hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
A person walks through a flooded street in the Brickell area of downtown as Hurricane Irma passes through on Sept. 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast.
Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
Heavy winds and rain from Hurricane Irma are seen in Miami, Florida on Sept. 10, 2017. Hurricane Irma's eyewall slammed into the lower Florida Keys, lashing the island chain with fearsome wind gusts, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Large waves produced by Hurricane Irma crash into the end of Anglins Fishing Pier Sept. 10, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
A boat is washed on shore at the Watson Island marina as Hurricane Irma passed through the area on Sept. 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Irma, which first made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, has weakened to a Category 2 as it moves up the coast.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
A car sits abandoned in storm surge along North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard as Hurricane Irma hits the southern part of the state September 10, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The powerful hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba.
Brian Blanco, Getty Images
Residents inspect the extreme receding water in Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on Sunday, lashing the state with 130 mph winds as it moves up the coast.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Broken tree branches block roads in the Coral Beach neighborhood as Hurricane Irma hits the southern part of the state September 10, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The powerful hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba.
Michele Eve, AFP/Getty Images
A fallen tree crashes atop a row of cars on Sept. 10, 2017 Miami, Florida in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Hurricane Irma's eyewall slammed into the lower Florida Keys, lashing the island chain with fearsome wind gusts, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Gerald Herbert, The Associated Press
Evacuees stand in line to enter the Germain Arena, which is being used as a shelter, in advance of Hurricane Irma, in Estero, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Jim Rassol /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
A young girl and her family seek shelter from Hurricane Irma at the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center in Boynton, Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
David Goldman, The Associated Press
Hector Padron carries his mattress as evacuees are moved to another building with more bathrooms while sheltering at Florida International University ahead of Hurricane Irma in Miami, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
David Goldman, The Associated Press
Evacuees are moved to another building with more bathrooms while sheltering at Florida International University ahead of Hurricane Irma in Miami, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
David Goldman, The Associated Press
Evacuees are moved to another building with more bathrooms while sheltering at Florida International University ahead of Hurricane Irma in Miami, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Jim Rassol, South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP
People seek shelter from Irma with their pets at the West Boynton Park and Recreation Center in preparation for Hurricane Irma in Boynton, Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
Hundreds of people gather in an emergency shelter at the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center in Miami, Florida, Sept. 8, 2017, ahead of Hurricane Irma.
Florida Governor Rick Scott warned that all of the state's 20 million inhabitants should be prepared to evacuate as Hurricane Irma bears down for a direct hit on the southern US state.
Chris O'Meara, The Associated Press
Ramsey Abdelkader, right, helps Sherri Skala, left, and Jennifer Morales fill sand bags to help protect their restaurant Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Clearwater Beach, Fla. Business and residents were under a mandatory evacuation order as Hurricane Irma continued to churn towards Florida.
Lara Cerri, Tampa Bay Times via AP
Joseph, Jr., right, 15, of St. Petersburg, bends down to carry sandbags to his family's vehicle at Lealman Community Park, in St. Petersburg, Fla., Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, as residents prepare for Hurricane Irma.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
People line up to get their propane tanks filled as they prepare for Hurricane Irma on Sept. 5, 2017 in Miami, Florida. It's still too early to know where the direct impact of the hurricane will take place but the state of Florida is in the area of possible landfall.
Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel via The Associated Press
Drivers wait in line for gasoline in Altamonte Springs, Fla., ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Irma, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Irma roared into the Caribbean with record force early Wednesday, its 185-mph winds shaking homes and flooding buildings on a chain of small islands along a path toward Puerto Rico, Cuba and Hispaniola and a possible direct hit on densely populated South Florida.
NASA/NOAA GOES Project via Getty Images
In this NASA/NOAA handout image taken at 11:45 a.m. Friday, NOAA's GOES satellite shows Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean Sea, Tropical Storm Jose in the Atlantic Ocean and Tropical Storm Katia in the Gulf of Mexico.
Stephanie Clegg Troxell was near Nashville, Tennessee, where her family caravan includes three cars and a trailer, five adults, five children, 13 dogs, three mini-horses and a pet pig. The trek from New Port Richey, Florida, north of Tampa Bay, took more than 17 hours, beginning last Wednesday.
Troxell said her husband stayed behind and now is working with friends to remove a tree that fell on the roof of their house. They also had no power.
“We don’t know when we’re leaving and now there’s another hurricane coming,” Troxell said, referring to Jose, which was offshore. “I’m trying to sneak out when it’s not 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour-plus winds.”
In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Rea Argonza was worried about money as she mapped out her return plans.
“Staying here, it’s been like a financial strain,” said Argonza, who traveled with her husband and five children from St. Augustine, Florida, to two hotel rooms 500 miles (805 kilometers) away near the Wake Forest University campus. “We’re up to almost a thousand dollars now. I do believe this whole expedition is going to be almost $3,000.”
In some cramped quarters, there were parties.
Argonza celebrated her 32nd birthday in North Carolina. Troxell’s daughter celebrated her 13th birthday Monday in Tennessee on a trip that’s featured visits to the state fair, some nearby waterfalls and the Opryland complex.
But the joys of an unplanned excursion may not extend to 70-pound (32-kilogram) swine. Tank, the Troxell family pig, appeared homesick because he can’t lounge by the pool like he does at home. “He’s missing his tropical scenery,” Troxell said.
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Associated Press writers Skip Foreman in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.