After leaving all of Cuba without power and at least two people dead, Hurricane Ian is now barreling toward Floridas west coast.

An estimated 2.5 million Floridians are under evacuation orders. And although many residents have already fled , some people have decided to stay put against officials advice. These folks will now try to weather what is currently just shy of a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 155 mph, heavy rain and life-threatening storm surge .

For those living on Floridas southwest coast (from Collier County up to Sarasota County), it is now too late to evacuate safely , the states governor, Ron DeSantis, said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

If you are in any of those counties, its no longer possible to safely evacuate, he said. Its time to hunker down and prepare for this storm. This is a powerful storm that should be treated like you would treat if a tornado was approaching your home.

Elsewhere in the state, though, there may still be time to move to a safer location. Florida residents can check their countys website or social media accounts for up-to-date information about evacuation.

People deciding to ride out the storm at home is nothing new. During any natural disaster, there are people who dont evacuate for a number of reasons. For the elderly, disabled and those who dont have easy access to a car, fleeing can be particularly challenging without proper support. Others stay behind because theyre worried about their property and the possibility of theft and looting, even though experts say such post-disaster crimes occur far less frequently than many people have been led to believe.

Finances can also have a major impact on someones decision to not evacuate, said Sarah DeYoung, an assistant professor at the University of Georgias Institute for Disaster Management .

Most people prefer to evacuate to friends and family, but if those networks arent within a few hours of driving, it becomes more difficult, she said. Also, the family or person leaving may consider alternatives such as hotels for shelter, and that may not be financially possible for all families. The public shelter is oftentimes seen as a last resort but can provide a safe temporary location.

There are also those who stay because they do not want to abandon pets or livestock, since many shelters only allow service animals. (Certain locations outside of the evacuation area including some hotels , veterinarians offices and kennels will accept family pets.)

And then there are those who have ignored evacuation orders in the past without any significant repercussions; they might think theyre facing a boy who cried wolf situation and arent in any real danger.

But if your loved ones are refusing to leave despite living in a mandatory evacuation zone, you should urge them to reconsider for their safety.