HAMPTON, Ga. — As Hurricane Milton barrels toward the Florida peninsula, the metro Atlanta area is preparing for an influx of evacuees seeking safety. Many are heading to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, which has opened its campgrounds to those fleeing the storm’s path.
Among the first to arrive was Olivia Richeson, who left her home in Deltona, Florida, late Monday night. She arrived around 1 p.m. but said she still had family members hoping to make their way north.
"It was already getting to a Category 4, and I wasn’t going to take any chances," Richeson said, recalling her decision to evacuate.
By early afternoon, her family had set up a temporary home at the speedway's campground, bringing along their Doberman, two cats and a camper.
“We’ve had flooding issues already in Volusia County, and big parts are on the evacuation list. I didn’t want to risk it,” she added.
Dustin Bixby with Atlanta Motor Speedway said they expect more evacuees as the hurricane approaches.
“Our ticket office has been taking reservations for our full hookup spaces, and we’ve had about a dozen folks so far," Bixby said. "We’ve also received about two dozen calls for our free dry camping option.”
The speedway's camping lot and a nearby gravel lot are prepared to house evacuees for as long as necessary. Bixby said that in the past, people stayed for up to a month while dealing with the aftermath of the storm.
Richeson hopes her family won’t be displaced for that long.
“We were hoping to head back by Friday, but with this storm, you never know,” Richeson said.
For those unable to make it to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, other locations like Senoia Raceway have also opened their properties to evacuees. The owner said while only a handful of people have called so far, they want to ensure people know they have options.