'Sick feeling' for Islanders with family in path of Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma is hitting close to home for some Islanders who havefamily and properties along the storm's path.

Stephanie Gallant Perez' husband is from Cuba, andstill lives there with his family.

As it stands, Irma is on a path to hit the island country in the next few days.

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"It's just ... 280 kilometre-an-hour winds, and it's wiping out islands," she said."I'm really nervous and scared, and really paying attention, trying to keep in contact with him and all his family, just to know day by day how everything's going."

'Sick feeling'

It's the unknown. Does he have to evacuate? Where is he? That's what's playing in my mind.- Stephanie Gallant Perez

Gallant Perez saidshe worries that if the hurricane does hit Cuba, cell phone service there will die, leaving her with no way to keep in touch.

"It's the unknown. Does he have to evacuate? Where is he? That's what's playing in my mind," she said. "It leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach."

For Luis Roman, who is originally from Puerto Rico, the feeling is relief.

'Nothing I can do'

Much of his family still lives there and iswhere Irma was expected to hit hard on Wednesday.

Watch an update from CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland from earlier Thursday.

Luckily, the eye of the storm steered clear of Puerto Rico, though nearly 900,000 people were left without power.

Roman's family is safe and their homes are still standing.

"I was very relieved," he said. "Of course, I'm out here so there's nothing I can do. It's a waiting game, and you pray and hope for the best."

Irma heading toward Florida

By the weekend, Irma is expected to hit Florida, where there are plenty of P.E.I. connections.

Sandra Aguila, who is from Stratford, P.E.I. but now lives just southwest of Jacksonville, Fla., said the neighbouring county has been told to prepare to leave.

"We're just waiting, and uncertain," Aguila said. "We've made plans for us to evacuate if we need to. But it's just a waiting game right now. I'm very worried."

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