Florida-based board game publisher R&R evacuates HQ as “extremely dangerous” Hurricane Milton nears landfall
Veteran Florida-based board game publisher R&R Games has evacuated its Tampa home in preparation for major hurricane Milton striking the state overnight.
Milton, a category four hurricane, is expected to strike the Tampa area late Wednesday or the early hours of Thursday morning, bringing with it 155mph winds, a predicted flood surge of up to 15ft and up to 1.5ft of rainfall.
Officials have issued evacuation orders for a large swathe of western Florida around Tampa, which has a population of more than three million across its wider metropolitan area.
Frank DiLorenzo, the founder of Tampa-based R&R Games, told BoardGameWire, “We evacuated from the Tampa area and shifted to a safer spot on the other side of the state.
“Hopefully, there is not a direct strike into Tampa and the office and warehouse there remain safe. We’ll know that after tomorrow.
“So far things are looking good but that can still change. We expect power to be out for two to five days and hopefully can return thereafter and get back to normalcy.
“Definitely the worst storm to threaten our area in a long time, just hoping we make it through safe and sound. Luckily the bulk of our inventory is in the Midwest warehouse so no worries there!”
A spokesperson for board game publisher CrowD Games, whose CEO and several other staff live in Florida, said the company was “bracing” for Milton but that the situation in Tallahassee was currently “normal”.
The latest hurricane comes just two weeks after Florida and several other south east US states were hammered by Hurricane Helene, causing widespread devastation and a 7.8ft storm surge in Tampa.
DiLorenzo founded R&R in 1996 to sell his design Riddles and Riches, and the company has since grown to publish strategy, card and party games over the years including Mombasa, Rajas of the Ganges and Hanabi.
Its 2023 slate included Amalfi: Renaissance, East India Companies and Witchstone expansion Full Moon.
