Marion Countians prep for Milton

J.D. Ramos of Shores Hardware fills propane bottles on Tuesday. He said propane was his fastest moving item and estimated he had pumped 1,500 gallons in the last couple days. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

Marion County residents scurried about on Tuesday morning under cloudy blue skies making preparations for the expected arrival of the effects of Hurricane Milton.

Ruth Thomas, the pastor of City of Refuge Church on east Maricamp Road, was picking up a few items at a Dollar General store but her focus was on a higher-powered preparation.

“We are praying to the Lord to push Hurricane Milton away,” Thomas said.

She also said she was checking on congregation members and that a group of seven had gone to Valdosta, Georgia, recently and took food and helped people who had suffered damage from Hurricane Helene and were without electric power.

“Now we need help, and we pray for the Lord to turn the storm away,” Thomas said.

A clerk at one east Marion County retail store said batteries were likely the fastest moving item on Tuesday morning, although several people were seen picking up bottled water at the location.

J.D. Ramos with Shores Hardware said propane was his fastest moving item and estimated that he had pumped perhaps 1,500 gallons over the last couple of days.

Alanis Ramos, also with the hardware store, said small cylinders of propane were also fast movers.

A woman at Shores Hardware who gave her name as “Karen” was buying plastic bags of topsoil. She said she could use the bags like sandbags and, when finished, spread the soil on her property.

Business at the Publix Supermarket in Heather Island at 7578 SE Maricamp Road was brisk midday and signage on the front door stated the store would close at 6 p.m. “until the storm passes.” The sign noted that customers can visit publix.com for information store closures.

The road sign at Food Mart in the 7000 block of Southeast Maricamp Road told the story of many surrounding gas stations. The amount for regular was displayed as “000” and the pumps had “out” signs on them.

Readers can monitor many other Ocala Gazette articles about Hurricane Milton on our website and social media pages.

This sign at Food Mart in the 7000 block of Southeast Maricamp Road told the story of many surrounding gas stations ahead of Hurricane Milton. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]