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Tallahassee woman survives Hurricane Maria in Dominica

Tallahassee woman survives Hurricane Maria in Dominica
Tallahassee woman survives Hurricane Maria in Dominica
Posted at 6:05 PM, Sep 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-21 14:50:43-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Hurricane Maria brought another major weather threat to the Caribbean, including the island of Dominica.

A Tallahassee woman has been studying there for the past month.

All we know is that she is safe and accounted for, according to her school, Ross University. Her parents here in Tallahassee are thankful she's okay after Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the island she just moved to.

For Casey Carlberg, getting her medical degree has taken her to Dominica, a Caribbean island known for its beauty.

But Hurricane Maria left this behind, worrying her parents.

"With her, she was a basket case," said David Carlberg, Casey's dad. "With me, she's where God wants her."

Casey has been studying at Ross University since august on the north end of the island. She lives in a nearby apartment complex, where she stayed put as Maria approached.

"She was sitting between her bed and the closet in her bedroom on the floor," said Casey's mom, Robin.

Maria knocked out power and cell service as Casey's parents scrambled to figure out where she was. At 2 a.m. Thursday, Ross University called them to say Casey was on a list of students that checked in and were safe.

"We just cried for like 10 minutes, because we were just so relieved," said Robin Carlberg.

Though they haven't heard from Casey herself yet, they're already full of questions.

"I'm anxious to hear her story of what happened -- what an adventure -- to hear how the hurricane was and what she saw when she left there," said David Carlberg.

Ross University says it has confirmed the safety of more than a thousand of its medical students.

The Carlbergs say they were told Casey will be moved to St. Lucia, where she'll have power and the chance to reconnect.