FORT PIERCE, Florida – Millions of people in Florida are starting a tough recovery after two major hurricanes hit just weeks apart. On Friday, residents began cleaning up after Hurricane Milton, which caused flooding, deadly tornadoes, and power outages, all while many were still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Milton brought heavy rain and winds, flooding homes and knocking down trees. In some areas, like Tampa, people feared the worst but were spared from massive seawater floods. However, the storm still caused destruction, killing at least 16 people and leaving millions without electricity.
Crews worked hard, removing more than 40,000 cubic yards of debris, which is about the size of 2,200 truckloads of trash. Utility workers fixed power lines, and government agencies helped clear the roads.
As of Friday morning, more than 2.27 million homes and businesses were still without power, down from 3.4 million right after Milton hit. Many of these people had already been without power since Hurricane Helene. National Guard troops and other helpers have been activated in 23 Florida counties to assist with the cleanup.
President Joe Biden is expected to visit the state on Sunday to see the damage for himself.
In some areas, like St. Pete Beach, most homes are now uninhabitable, with no water or sewer services, according to the mayor. Sarasota County reopened a bridge to let residents back onto the barrier islands, but warned that services like power and water are still limited.
In Tampa, more than 450 homes were checked for damage, and 13 were destroyed, with 111 suffering major issues. Milton’s rains and strong winds caused inland flooding, including in Plant City, which is about 20 miles from the coast.
The cost of cleaning up after the storm is still unknown. The city of Tampa is prioritizing clearing the debris from homes first. Thankfully, Tampa avoided the worst flooding when Milton’s path shifted at the last moment.
One resident, Melissa Wolcott-Martino, 81, was relieved her home in St. Petersburg wasn’t severely damaged. “It’s a miracle,” she said. “We expected a 10-foot surge, which would’ve covered our roof.”
The Tampa zoo reported that all 1,000 of its animals, including flamingos, zebras, elephants, and giraffes, were safe, although the zoo remained closed for cleanup.
So far, more than 1,200 people have been rescued since Milton made landfall on Wednesday night.
Experts say that Hurricane Milton, which intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 storm in less than 24 hours, is part of a growing trend of storms becoming stronger due to climate change. The storm could cost insurers up to $60 billion.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is asking Congress for more money to help with recovery efforts.
At least 16 people have died due to the hurricanes, according to reports from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
