First of all, thank you everyone! Sharing our concerns here has certainly helped
Linda, this is our situation as well in terms of hubby needing electricity for a cPap, etc.
In theory, driving further north sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? However, it's not. In fact, it's not a very good idea at all for people who live as far south as we do. By Florida being a peninsula, every.single.person only has one way out.. straight north. Once you hit the highways (there are really only 2 major roadways... the turnpike and I95), you risk getting stuck just sitting there. Then what do you do? You could lose your life by just sitting there. Also, there were no available hotel rooms further north (I've been ck'ing). Also, the further away you go, the more difficult it is to return. No gas, congested traffic, no electricity, downed trees, flooding, etc.
This was I95
yesterday, around Daytona Beach.