Florida Drunk Driver Blames Hurricane Debby for DUI Arrest

A Florida drunk driver learned the hard way that if you're gonna drink during a hurricane, you better keep it inside and off the road. According to FOX13, Sheriff Mike Prendergast of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, was out driving around. He was checking the roads during Hurricane Debby, making sure his deputies are all good. But then, out of nowhere, he sees this car next to him at a stoplight and her wheels are spinning, but she’s going nowhere. The light turns green, and instead of getting it together, she starts driving like a lunatic. To top it off, she’s flicking her hazard lights on and off like, "Look at me the Florida drunk driver!"

Sheriff Prendergast knows something’s up, so he pulls her over and gets a whiff of her breath. And oh boy, it’s like she’s been marinating in alcohol. Her words are all slurred, and it’s clear she’s not just feeling the effects of the storm.

Now, when Candace steps out of the car, it’s like a mini-bar exploded in there. There are three empty liquor ‘shooters’ chilling on the front seat, an open can of beer, and one more little shooter just waiting for it's turn.

Candace tries to walk the line in a sobriety test, but she’s all over the place, blaming the storm winds for her wobbly steps. As if that wasn’t enough, she refuses to take a breathalyzer test and, surprise! She’s driving on a suspended license.

So, in the middle of Hurricane Debby, with the wind howling and rain pouring down, Candace decided to have herself a little roadside drink fest. But Sheriff Prendergast wasn’t about to let her get away with it. Now, she’s got a lot more than storm damage to worry about.

With Tropical Storm Idalia heading our way, it's good to be ready and here are the best items to have on hand to prepare for a hurricane.

There's lots of talk about Tropical Storm Idalia. After last year, here in Fort Myers, we hear a storm starting with an "I" and it brings back thoughts of what we went through 11 months ago with Ian. According to NBC2, here in Southwest Florida, we are under a Tropical Storm Warning. Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane, possibly a Cat 3, in the Gulf by Wednesday with landfall up near the Panhandle. While we won't get the worst of it here, we are expecting wine and rain with 2-4 feet of storm surge expected.

Today is the literal calm before the storm. Tuesday and Wednesday are the days when we'll see the heaviest rain. With that, again the storm surge is possible. Flash flooding could also be a concern. There's also a chance for tornadoes Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Hurricane season here in Florida runs June 1-November 30. It's always good to be prepared. While the threats to us here in Southwest Florida aren't severe, it's better to have what you need and not need it than to not have it and wish you did. Right now is also a good time to stock up. There's a tax holiday here in Florida on hurricane supplies, so you can get what you need tax free. Here's a list of the best items to have on hand to prepare for a hurricane.

I was shopping this weekend and saw some people panic buying. There's no need for that. The recommended amount of water to have on hand is one gallon per person per day, for at least three days.

In case power goes out, you'll want things you can eat easily that won't spoil. You'll want a minimum of a three-day supply per person and a manual can opener.

This is so important because if power goes out and you no longer have access to TV or internet, this would be your only option for updates. We learned last year during Ian radio is #1 for hurricane info.

You can put candles on the list as well. Anything that will provide light if power goes out.

Gas was VERY hard to come by last year and many stations had a limited supply, so having gas in the tank, at least enough to get you out of town should you need to evacuate is important. Also, to have gas for a generator.

These can be extremely helpful for storing important documents like photos, social security card, insurance information, etc. A good place to keep cash as well. 

We're all so attached to our phones and tablets, but if power goes out and you can't charge them or don't have internet, you'll need other things to keep yourself occupied. Games, crossword puzzles, toys and drawing pads/crayons can keep you busy.

Make sure to have food, wipes, extra clothing and diapers for kiddos. Make sure you have food, water and pet bags for your four-legged family members too. 

After a hurricane, you can use plastic sheets or tarps to cover any holes or damage to your roof until it can be fixed. Also good to have supplies to hold them down if there are any other heavy winds that come through.