Valley man remembers Hurricane Ike 10 years later in wake of Florence

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KSAZ) - One Valley man says the recent images of now Tropical Depression Florence lashing the Carolinas brought back difficult memories for him.

The images coming out of the Carolinas is almost too much to bear for Scott Hodges.

"It was kind of a shock for me," said Hodges.

He had to be evacuated 10 years ago when Hurricane Ike came ashore in Texas as a strong category two hurricane, leaving a path of death and destruction in its wake.

"We didn't have a lot of time to get ready," said Hodges. "Me personally, I just threw some stuff in the car and headed north because I knew it was going to be a bad one."

Hodges was a truck driver, and immediately after the storm he went to work, trying to help clear roads and debris. That's when he got the first glimpse of what was left of his house.

"When I got to my house it looked like probably a tornado dropped down on top of my house because the stuff that was inside was out in the yard and the house was just destroyed," said Hodges.

After the hurricane, Hodges sold his land to his neighbor and started a new life in Arizona. He says his heart aches for those affected by the storm.

"I wish there was a way I could go because I could relate to what they're going through," said Hodges.