Influencer Caroline Calloway Refuses to Evacuate Florida Home Amidst Hurricane Warnings

Florida-based influencer Caroline Calloway has sparked concern among her followers after announcing her decision to remain in her Sarasota home despite mandatory evacuation orders due to the impending Hurricane Milton. Calloway, 32, posted a video on her Instagram account on October 8, stating, “I’m going to die,” while acknowledging that her residence is located in “zone A,” a designated mandatory evacuation area.

The social media personality cited several reasons for her decision to stay, claiming that she could not drive and mentioning that the airport was closed amidst the exodus of Floridians seeking safety. In her online posts, Calloway referred to a previous experience during Hurricane Ian, when she evacuated to her mother’s house only to end up being rescued by the U.S. military after enduring three days without essential services such as power, food, or running water. “It was very traumatic,” she remarked, expressing her reluctance to repeat the experience.

Calloway moved from New York City to Sarasota in 2023 after reportedly accumulating significant unpaid rent in her former West Village apartment. Her social media posts showed images from her beachfront property, with overcast skies visible through the windows. “A little concerned I live right on the beach, not gonna lie,” she admitted in a caption. In her typical style, she also promoted her upcoming book titled “Elizabeth Wurtzel and Caroline Calloway’s Guide to Life.”

The influencer’s decision comes at a time when state officials are issuing grave warnings about the potential devastation of Hurricane Milton. The storm, categorized as a Category 5 hurricane, threatens the west-central coast of Florida with winds exceeding 160 mph. On the evening of October 9 or early October 10, the hurricane is expected to make landfall, prompting explicit warnings from officials like Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who stated, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”

Caroline Calloway’s notoriety extends beyond controversial social media posts. She has been labeled a “scammer” in the past for promoting events that did not occur, misusing a six-figure book advance, and launching a skincare line humorously titled “Snake Oil.” Her history of financial and professional misadventures was also the subject of a BBC documentary that examined the impacts of her actions.