Flight cancellations at RSW leave northern travelers stuck

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla.—Travelers at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers faced a challenging day as flights to major destinations like Chicago, New York, and Detroit were canceled this afternoon. 

Many travelers have experienced delays since yesterday, with some not expected to reach their destinations until tomorrow.

Noel Parent, a traveler at RSW, shared his frustration.

"I got up early, arrived here at five o'clock sharp, checked in, got the bag through, got through security, sat down in the departure lounge, and then got a text message, oh, your flights canceled," said Parent.

Claire Slabaugh and Heather Gunter, also travelers, expressed their concerns.

"I'm supposed to go to Greenville. I was supposed to leave at 307 today, go through Charlotte. Now I'm booked tomorrow at six something pm to get in at around midnight tomorrow night," said Slabaugh and Gunter.

They added, "We have another friend that's flying back to LaGuardia, and she's been canceled until tomorrow morning, so we're going to be spending the night together."

The extreme weather conditions impacting flights have also mobilized volunteers from the American Red Cross to assist those in need across the country.

"We are focusing now on displaced residents. So, people who have been displaced from their homes due to damage, or people who are evacuating their homes to seek a safer place," said Dariana Molina of the American Red Cross.

Molina mentioned that seven responders from South Florida, including one from the Fort Myers area, are involved in the relief efforts.

With a cold front approaching Southwest Florida, Florida Power & Light (FPL) provided tips on keeping homes warm while saving on energy bills.

"If you come home, maybe in the evening, and your house feels cold, only maybe adjust your thermostat by no more than two degrees at a time, because if you try to come in and bump it up several degrees, that can make your auxiliary heat come on. And the auxiliary heat is kind of like an emergency heat setting that uses a lot more energy than normal heating, so that can cost up to $15 a day to run," said Shelley Ragsdale, an FPL representative.

As more flights are expected to land in the coming hours, WINK News will continue to monitor the situation and speak with travelers about their experiences.