Impact of Hurricane Matthew Felt In Den

Although the main focus at BC Lions‘ headquarters remains on Winnipeg and the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on Saturday, a few members of the squad are keeping close tabs on what is going at their homes in the southeast.

As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Matthew ripped through the Bahamas and was headed for Florida’s East Coast, as well as parts of Georgia and South Carolina, by the weekend. With plenty of Florida flavour on this Lions roster, there has been lots of focus on the tropical storm’s development.

Richie Leone is among those whose family has been evacuated. His parents, Richard Sr. and Anne, packed up their vehicle, along with the two dogs and a cat, and headed for their daughter’s home in Atlanta from Amelia Island, Florida.

“They’re semi-close, probably less than a three minute drive from the ocean,” Leone said before practice on Thursday. “They’re out of there now. Once you get a mile or two in ( from the coast) you should be safe, but you don’t want to risk things.”

The National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida predicts the category 4 storm to be the strongest hurricane in decades. The only other category 4 hurricane to hit Northeast Florida and the Georgia coast was well over a century ago, in 1898.

“When they were on their way out, they saw Humvees and Army vehicles heading south with building supplies,” Leone said of his parents’ journey north.

Growing up in Atlanta, Leone was no stranger to being effected by tropical storms. He recalls the impact his hometown had in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“I was in seventh grade when Katrina hit,” Leone recalled. “Atlanta was a popular place for people who were displaced from it. We had a lot of new kids come to our school as a result. We’ve always had tropical storms that reached Atlanta, mainly some pretty bad tornadoes. The one in Tuscaloosa, Alabama(in April, 2011)went through my neighbourhood. It was just crazy.”

Running back Anthony Allen jogged off the practice field to connect with his wife and two young children in Hollywood, roughly 30 miles north of Miami.

“They’re hanging tight. They’re going to try and weather the storm,” Allen said.

“There was a voluntary evacuation in our area but we really don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t want my girl and the kids to be in the car while it’s raining. They’re stocked up on food and I told her to keep the air cold in case the power goes out. A lot of the neighbours in our condo are still home so hopefully they get together if the power goes out. It’s my kids’ first hurricane so there’s a little anxiety right now, but I am doing my best to calm them down.”

Allen’s father, stepmother and younger sister are also in Hollywood. Like Leone, he also has vivid memories of dealing with Mother Nature’s curveballs in the Sunshine State.

“In 2005 it was Hurricane Wilma that came through and we lost power for about a week and a half and we had to move to a hotel,” Allen recalls. “Having to do school projects while living in a hotel was kind of hard, but it was just a power outage. I am praying that’s the case this time as well.”

Following practice, Allen’s loved ones were still safe and sound, waiting for the storm to pass.

Chris Rainey is crossing his fingers while friends and relatives remain largely unaffected by the storm in his home of Lakeland, Florida.

“They’re going to let me know if anything happens,” the return specialist said. “Growing up in Florida, hurricanes were all we dealt with. Nothing serious happened to me before and I am blessed for that.”

Rainey does recall an eventful football practice at Lakeland Senior High School where a hurricane was passing through and the conditions became quite serious.

“The storm began and there was a billboard swaying around and flying all over the place. It got real wet and windy in a hurry.”

As the three players continue to keep tabs on loved ones, they all have one thing in common: it won’t hinder their preparations for the Blue Bombers.

“They are safe. That’s what homeowner’s insurance is for,” Leone adds with a laugh. “I’m glad they’re safe. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing.”

“As long as I am on the field, football takes precedence. Once I get back in the locker room and get home, that’s when the priorities turn to family,” Allen said.

“Definitely focussed on football,” Rainey added. “I can stay updated by watching the news and checking in with everyone throughout the day.”

Football and family go hand in hand. And the family-type environment at the Lions’ training facility has no doubt contributed to the 9-4 record and pending playoff berth.

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com