As Hurricane Matthew hammered the east coast of Florida on Friday, many of those residents found themselves here looking for refuge.

  • Douglas Conniff left Volusia County before Matthew hit
  • About 20 people stayed at Citrus County shelter
  • Storm pounded Florida's east coast Friday

"I just decided to come all the way over here, because I'm so tired of all this bad weather that was happening," said Douglas Conniff, who was holding back tears.

Conniff heard the warnings from his Volusia County home.

"Without any hesitation or procrastination, I went ahead and got in my truck with my dog."

Conniff left his coastal home early Thursday morning. He's been staying at a shelter in Citrus County.

"I just watched from 5:30 to 6:30, 115 mile an hour winds on the western wall of the eye cross over my FEMA trailer that I'm still in after 11 years from 2005 when hurricane Ivan, Charlie, and Francis hit us," he said.

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Conniff said all he brought with him was food and his dog Bruiser.

Conniff said he doesn’t know if his home is still standing but he's glad to be surrounded by people who care.

"It's hard on a guy, but it's the love and the goodness of people surrounding you that makes a big difference," he said.

He said being safe with his dog Bruiser is all that really matters in the end.

Twenty people were at the Citrus County shelter Friday morning. The majority were from the east coast.