(Santee) Sept. 25, 2004 - The hotels in Santee and other areas along I-95 are preparing for the crowds of people leaving Florida. The evacuation includes over three million people, many of whom will travel into South Carolina to avoid to full force of the storm.

Many evacuees are on the highways, enroute to friends, relatives, or just a welcoming inn. Mark Vabrinskan, a Florida evacuee, and his family are getting used to the journey, "Well, it's an adventure. We have fun, gives us an excuse to travel."

The family stopped at a rest stop off Interstate 95. While there, they make the best use of their time, "We just rest the stretch. We stop, stretch our legs and we have a picnic."

The Days Inn manager, H.P. Patel, is preparing for the incoming Floridians, "With Florida travelers coming this way, some hotels like this Day's Inn in Santee will get busy and the staff here is now preparing for the rush. It's been busy, since today morning we took about 15-16 reservations on the phone."

Maintenance has to inspect each room, checking out the essentials. To ensure the travelers' comfort, they took a look in the stock room as well. It's necessary to make sure there's plenty of soap, shampoo, TV guides, sheets and towels.

The extra prep work means a lot for Edward Koschei, who's there because of Hurricane Jeanne, "I thought, I would spend one night here. May have to spend two, three nights, I don't know."

Many Floridians appreciate South Carolina's travelers' welcome, because they don't know what will await them back home.

Reported by Lucas McFadden

Posted 11:10pm by Chantelle Janelle