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Hoosier family evacuates Florida just before Hurricane Ian hits

When the Artemis 1 launch was called off, Kevin Van Horn and his grandson decided to go to Key West. While there, they said the weather quickly changed.

INDIANAPOLIS — As Hurricane Ian slams into the Sunshine State, one Hoosier family is thankful to be back home.  

“We got out of there just in time, or we would’ve been stuck there,” said Kevin Van Horn.  

Last Friday, Van Horn and his grandson flew down to Florida to see a rocket launch after the Artemis 1 launch was delayed earlier this month.   

NASA then called the launch off again. So Van Horn and his grandson decided to head to Key West instead.  

RELATED: NASA 'standing down' from moon rocket launch attempt as storm approaches

They said that after a few days, the weather started to change.  

“The people there then said, ‘Get out of Dodge,’” Van Horn said.  

Credit: Kevin Van Horn
Kevin Van Horn and his grandson went to Key West. They said after a few days, the weather started to change.

Thankfully, the two managed to snag a rental car early, after learning their flight was canceled.  

But driving out of Florida was not an easy task. Van Horn said there was stand-still traffic that stretched for miles along the interstates.  

“It was well over an hour and a half that we were stuck in traffic just going bumper to bumper and everybody was patient,” Van Horn said. “No one was causing any trouble, and everybody was taking their time, realizing that there were a whole lot of people behind us that we are going through the same thing we are going through.” 

Credit: Kevin Van Horn
When Kevin Van Horn learned a hurricane was headed toward Florida and his flight was canceled, he and his grandson grabbed a rental car. They said they were stuck in traffic for over an hour and a half.

Van Horn said it was crazy to watch how quickly the weather changed.  

He said they took a photo by the Southernmost Point landmark in Key West, then less than a day later, they saw videos and photos of waves crashing on top of it.  

“Just 18 hours ago, we were here. The sun was shining and then mother nature comes in and it changes that quick,” Van Horn said.  

Credit: Kevin Van Horn
Kevin Van Horn and his grandson went to Key West and they said after a few days, the weather started to change.

After a long road trip, Van Horn is grateful to be back home in Indiana, knowing a few hours could have made a big difference.

“It would’ve been a whole lot different waiting that extra six or eight hours to get out of there,” he said.  

    

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