A family fleeing Hurricane Irma in the Bahamas has abandoned their home and spent their life savings on a flight to Ontario without a plan for what to do when they arrived.
Desiree Johnson and her two sons say they know they made an impulsive decision, but felt they had no other choice as the deadly storm approached their home.
The family spent what money they had on flights out of the Bahamas on Thursday. They only had enough for two of Johnson鈥檚 three sons.
The third son, a 27-year-old man, lived on another island and didn鈥檛 have the money to join them.
鈥淚've been trying to call him since morning,鈥� Johnson told CTV Barrie. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard.鈥�
The family landed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday and have been there ever since.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 sleep at all, I paced the floor, I walked,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t was not a good feeling.鈥�
The family still carries difficult memories from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. That hurricane caused roughly US$600 million in damages to the country, although no Bahamians died in the storm.
After Hurricane Matthew, the family went two months without electricity and clean water.
鈥�(It was) the most terrifying experience of my 35 years,鈥� said Jevon Johnson, one of Desiree鈥檚 sons. 鈥淚 found the meaning of terror during Hurricane Matthew.鈥�
In total, Hurricane Matthew claimed the lives of 603 people in the Caribbean and United States.
Hurricane Irma has already hit the Bahamas and has killed at least 21 people in the Eastern Caribbean. It鈥檚 expected to make landfall in Florida by Sunday morning.
The family is now planning to ask the federal government for permission to stay in the country. Johnson says she wants an opportunity for two of her sons to start a new life in Canada.
鈥淲e would not come here and be a strain on the government. All we want is a start,鈥� said Johnson.
With a report from CTV Barrie鈥檚 K.C. Colby.
