As Hurricane Ivan possibly heads toward Florida, some students can't help comparing the storm to the two others that struck the state in the last month.

When Hurricane Charley hit, Anna Palladino, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, was at home in Tampa, Fla.

"Definitely everything just totally shut down in Tampa," Palladino said. She recalled how gas stations were out of gas and airport flights were cancelled for several days afterward.

She got a look at the damage the storm had caused when she was driving south the next week.

"It was like a movie," Palladino said. "Like you would never think the interstate signs would be down. Trees were down."

On the return trip, Palladino counted 23 trucks from a Georgia electric company on the highway.

Unease still remains for Florida residents.

"Every time there's a hurricane forming, the anxiety level goes up," said Hector Sanchez, a College of Engineering senior from Weston, Fla., located about 250 miles southeast of Tampa.

Palladino expressed similar sentiments.

She said she is "always concerned about my family, especially in Tampa, which used to be the lightning capital of the world."

A couple and their dog were killed when they were struck by lightning while walking in her neighborhood two weeks ago, Palladino said.

The hurricanes have far-reaching effects.

Sanchez had relatives whose homes were flooded even though the storm didn't hit them. Everyone was asked to evacuate for safety from Hurricane Frances, he said.

The storms have forced many students in Florida to put their plans on hold.

"I started school I guess three and a half weeks ago, but I've only had school for a week and a half," said Sarah Backe, a sophomore at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, located on the eastern coast of Florida. "I have less to know for finals, looking on the positive side."

Backe said the students were being evacuated, but she didn't know where they were going.

Palladino said her friends at the University of Central Florida in Orlando were not able to move into their dorms on time, and instead stayed in hotels until they had to be evacuated. Classes were originally set to begin Aug. 23 but did not start until Sept. 9, according to the university's Web site.

Milwaukee is not standing by idly while Florida is being walloped, however.

The Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the American Red Cross has sent eight to 10 volunteers to Florida to assist in relief efforts, according to Kate Hinze, the chapter's director of media and communication.

"All the Red Cross chapters throughout the state are recruiting volunteers to go down there and help them," Hinze said.

Relief is not yet in sight for the beleaguered residents of Florida.

"Hopefully the same people won't be affected (by Ivan), but it looks like some of them may be," Hinze said.