For those who haven’t lived in the Ocala area for long, Hermine became a concern before it even got its name.
- Marion residents brace for Hermine
- Marion Public Schools are not in session Friday
- TRACK THE TROPICS
"Prepare for the worst — what can you do? Just be prepared," Alexandra Cruz said. “This is the biggest storm so far in the time I’ve been here.”
In Marion County, strong storms snapped trees and dropped heavy rain Thursday.
Hermine continues to produce showers and thunderstorms throughout the night in Ocala. A large tree fell just feet from a home at the Hazel Gardens mobile home park.
In parts of Dunnellon, flooding became a concern, and Citra residents experienced power outages.
Meanwhile, in Silver Springs Shores, residents grabbed sandbags to keep their homes safe throughout the night. For others, like sixth-grader Tristan Gaskey, the hurricane was an excuse for a longer weekend -- Marion Schools are closed Friday, which means a four-day holiday weekend.
"It's pretty awesome that we get to stay out of school," Tristan said.
Said Cruz: “Hopefully we won’t lose power; that’s the most important thing. I can deal with a little bit of water. But (not without) the power, especially with this heat.”