Ottawa's Christine Drew describes what's she's experienced of Hurricane Irma as a strong blizzard, but with very hot temperatures, and water instead of snow.
Christine and her husband Doval traveled to Saint Kitts and Nevis east of Puerto Rico this week for what was supposed to be a holiday.
Instead, they've found themselves trapped during the strongest Atlantic hurricane in history.
"It is terrible, but the fear is worse than when it actually hits," Drew wrote to CFRA and CTV on Wednesday. "We are still getting hammered with it but it is mostly rain now."
Drew describes government radio messages saying "God help us all" moments before the historic storm hit on Tuesday.
But the small island they're visiting has been relatively lucky as the strongest part of Irma made a turn to the north.
"The outer bands flick off tornadoes and lightning into the sea like someone flicking water off their hands," writes Drew. "But the tornadoes and lightning stop as it swallows you up, so you are just grateful for that."
"Our power is back. We got extremely lucky. We are in a concrete building on the second story and have not left the interior yet because it's still lashing us."
Drew says she and her husband are "fine."
The couple was set to fly back to Ottawa on Saturday, but it's almost certain their return will be delayed.
With files from CTV Ottawa