We have no idea if our beloved cottage which we call The Pocket Cottage has been spared,
Corey and Erin Snapp built their dream cottage just outside Wilmington, North Carolina, about three blocks from the waterfront.
On Friday, Erin said the couple were "scared to death" after they watched video of the flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Florence as they left Chattanooga where they'd spent the past couple of days.
"We have no idea if our beloved cottage, which we call 'The Pocket Cottage,' has been spared," she said about their home in Southport, which is just south of Wilmington, as they drove onto Virginia to stay with friends.
The Snapps were one of many families who evacuated to Chattanooga and other cities to avoid the storm's wrath.
Barry White, the Chattanooga Convention and Visitor Bureau's president and chief executive officer, didn't know how many evacuees have come to the Scenic City. But, he said, the CVB has tried to accommodate the visitors by posting hotels and their availability on the bureau's website.
"The hotels and attractions will be prepared," White said, noting some local businesses were offering discounts.
Brynn Moon of the Fairfield Inn & Suites off Shallowford Road said the hotel was full the past two nights. Most of the residents had sought refuge from the hurricane, she said.
Moon said Friday the number of rooms booked in the future due to the storm appeared to be dwindling.
Matt Bailey of the Embassy Suites said it, too, saw hurricane- related stays. But, he said, the East Brainerd hotel was getting a lot of cancellations since the storm came ashore less powerful than earlier projected.
"I'm glad for everybody that it's calming," Bailey said.
Mitch Patel, president and chief executive officer of Chattanooga-based Vision Hospitality Group, said he didn't have firm numbers of evacuees staying in his area hotels, but it's typical during such unfortunate events.
Often, he said, people will stay two or three days and try to make a holiday out of it.
The Snapps, who run a photography business in Southport called Snapp-Shot Photography, said they'd first stopped in Greenville, South Carolina, and later came onto Chattanooga because they thought they'd be safe and wanted to visit the city and relax.
They took in Rock City and the riverfront downtown to find "breathing space and forget things a little bit," Erin said.
Corey said it might be some time before they make it back to Southport due to flooding and a lack of electricity.
That means, he said, their business is on hold for the moment, and they've had to refund clients.
"It's pretty bad financially," Corey said.
Erin said the couple are following updates issued by emergency personnel and a lot of people in that area stayed despite a mandatory evacuation.
But, she said, despite the circumstances, they enjoyed Chattanooga.
"People were wonderful to us," Erin said. "They've been so caring. Everyone has been so nice."
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.