the heightened need will continue for at least a month she said ultimately she found a brotherinlaw who could shelter her son at his home in jacksonville for lowincome people this is a disaster still many people have chosen to evacuate from the path of hurricane ian even as they struggle to afford basic needs said vanessa tinsley the executive director of a miamiarea food bank called bridge to hope months earlier the family had purchased plane tickets for an october visit to her parents in minnesota a local influx of evacuees has dramatically increased the number of people seeking food she said you cant lower your car insurance the cost of your housing your utility bill more than half of people across the us cannot afford to cover a 1000 emergency according to a bankrate survey in january bridge to hope which typically provides food to 100 clients by appointment each day saw the number of appointments shoot up to 156 on thursday she added with our savings depleted plus inflation were in a really really tough financial spot collins said i felt so guilty i have no idea how were going to get through this its not just the glitz and glam of living in a state like florida but do you have a financial backup plan if something goes wrong tinsley hired two additional staff members to work the food pantry nearly doubling a staff that usually stands at three more hurricane ian live updates ian might be deadliest in florida history biden says many people cannot afford to evacuate because they lack a car and the savings to pay for alternate transportation dickerson said noting the costs of staying at a hotel also exceed many household budgets the evacuations show the same thing we saw during covid she added further people who work for hourly wages often cannot afford to miss days or weeks of work as they shelter elsewhere dickerson added the food budget is the last flexible piece they have evacuating hurricane ian is unaffordable for many during hurricane harvey which struck texas and louisiana in 2017 hurricane evacuation cost households an average of 1200 david bierling a researcher at ams texas transportation institute and hazard reduction and recovery center told the texas observer this experience has been an eyeopener she told abc news more hurricane ian tracker latest maps projections and possible paths leaving your child behind in a situation like this is just horrible she said if somebody could be making money if they stay theres also the income component she said as the storm headed straight toward their tampa bayarea home the airline allowed them to move up their departure date and evacuate that sudden financial burden would prove out of reach for most americans you cant call the bank and say i need a lower car payment she added as soon as everything was shut down the disparities were on display fleeing hurricane ian kallie collins her