ORLANDO – While some of his Orlando Magic teammates expressed unknowing giddiness about weathering their first hurricane, Elfrid Payton didn’t laugh, didn’t smile and didn’t dare blink in the face of what could ultimately prove to be a major catastrophic weather event in Central Florida.
After all, Payton has first-hand knowledge – and the haunting memories, to boot – of how a hurricane can decimate an entire region, rip apart buildings and families alike and systematically break the collective will of people fighting for survival.
Payton, a native of suburban New Orleans, was forced to evacuate the Crescent City back in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina steamed toward Louisiana with fury and reckless abandon.