VALDOSTA — Even Valdosta residents are seeking shelter at area hotels just for a night as Hurricane Michael approaches the area.

Donna Garbett Chaitram gathered her family of four — daughters River, 5, and Rumi, 9, son Raini, 8, and husband, C.C. — to stay the night at Drury Inn and Suites until the worst of Hurricane Michael passes.

“There are trees surrounding our house that are tall Georgia pines,” Garbett Chaitram said. “With the potential wind and soakage of the ground, they could easily end up being on our rooftop.”

The family resides in the Old Wood Valley neighborhood, where there are several tall trees lining the yards.

She said she hopes they only have to stay in the hotel for one night without any power issues.

“I’ve had to close my business,” she said. “They’re out of school Wednesday and Thursday, and we’ll have to wait until Thursday to find out about school closing Friday. Everything has kind of come to a halt but we’re doing pretty good because we pre-planned and got this hotel room ahead of time before we were in a situation where there wasn’t an availability.”

The family rode out Hurricane Irma last year when it made its way through Lowndes County and surrounding areas. Their house suffered roof and water damage last year.

Garbett Chaitram said this storm is predicted to be worse — the National Weather Service said Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 4, and is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it hits Valdosta — so her family is taking precautions.

“This one is a little bit stronger, so here we are,” she said. “You just have no way of predicting what might happen.”

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.