Topics: Animals, News, Social Media, US News, Weather, World News, Hurricane Milton
A Florida farmer has issued a heart-wrenching plea to her social media followers for prayers, revealing she, her family and her animals are in the 'direct line' of Hurricane Milton - the worst storm to hit the American east coast in decades.
The TikTok star - who goes by the username @oursidehomestead on the video-sharing app - has since been inundated with support since her clip went viral, with many users invested in her brood's safety this week.
The natural disaster is scheduled to hit Florida in the coming hours, with experts having described it as the 'deadliest' and most 'catastrophic' storm to hit the state in 100 years.
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As such, many locals have been advised to flee their homes and take refuge elsewhere in order to protect themselves against the 165 mph winds.
Sadly, however, the TikTok-using farmer in question has revealed that evacuation is simply not an option at this point.
Filming a clip with one of donkeys in the background, the social media star told viewers: "Me and Mr Cash are going to give you guys a hurricane update.
"So many of you have reached out with love, and I am so grateful. So many of you needed to know where we're located in relation to Milton.
"I'm trying to answer everybody, but I figured a video would be better."
Revealing that she, her family and her farm animals are in the 'direct line' that the natural disaster is supposed to hit.
She added that they are 'not on the coast', however, and are actually located in Claremont, in central Florida.
"We're not evacuating," she went on to reveal. "So, please, don't ask me to."
Breaking down in tears, the TikToker added: "All these animals are children, and we've raised most of them since birth, and we're not leaving them.
"We're not in an evacuation zone so we're not near the water, but it's going to be bad."
She went on: "There was no way to evacuate the animals because there's nowhere to take them. This whole state is getting hit.
"We can't take them out of state because we don't have health certificates for everybody, so, we're staying put."
Going on to claim that they'd 'done all the preparing we can', she said she's struggling to prepare her heart for the devastation to come.
She added that she would be leaving her animals out in the field so that they're away from the risk of their barn collapsing in on them, but explained that the storm will still carry deadly items that could sadly hit them.
The farmer went on to explain that she'd be bringing as many animals as possible into her home.
"Whatever you guys believe in," she continued. "Pray for the whole state, not just us. This is the worst storm we've ever seen."
As we say, the farmer has since been inundated with support from her followers, with many praying for her family's safety.
"I am crying with you, I am praying for you and all of Florida," one penned in the comments.
Another added: "Praying for you. Makes me feel sick not to be able to help. Love from Germany."
"Bring them inside with you!!" a third added. "I’ll be thinking about you and your animals, anxiously awaiting for an update!"
