hurricane Irma daytona photos 130522Hurricane Irma and Doyle - Daytona Beach - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

As Hurricane Irma migrated north, throwing bands of wind and rain across the sunshine state on Sunday, I encountered a local named Doyle at the pier in Daytona Beach. "I can't tell you my last name because my last name is a first name. People hyphenate it and get it mixed up," explained Doyle, "So, I only go by Doyle. It's not because I don't want you to know who I am."

hurricane Irma daytona photos 130671-2Hurricane Irma preparations - Daytona Beach - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

Last year he spent Hurricane Matthew walking in the woods by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where they teach kids to fly no better than he can. I believe him when he tells me the walking part, as opposed to the flying part. When I ask him where he'll go tonight he responded, "North, South, East... West..." he says, "That way no one know which way I'm headed."

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"You know what that tells me?" said Doyle pointing at the waves crashing into the pier, "That tells me that every single human being cannot ever tell me what to do. THAT'S WHY I LOOOOVE THAT!!! There is nobody in control. This planet is in control."

hurricane Irma daytona photos 130649Hurricane Irma preparations - Daytona Beach - Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford