TAMPA – As Tampa Bay residents scrambled to clear debris from Hurricane Helene, an even more menacing threat emerged on the horizon… Hurricane Milton, setting the stage for what would become the region’s most challenging hurricane season in recent memory.
Emergency management teams and residents had minimal time between storms to make standard hurricane preparations. Many buildings damaged by Helene were unable to be restored when Milton arrived. Emergency supplies across the region had already been depleted.
The Big Bend area saw a storm surge as high as 15, feet leaving thousands of homes underwater. After the storm passed, residents moved flood-damaged furniture and belongings to the curbs for disposal, a process many hadn’t completed before Milton made landfall.
By Milton’s arrival, thousands struggled to evacuate as gas supplies dwindled and the shortage worsened as residents flooded back into the state. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie asked residents to assist with cleaning up the aftermath of Helene during a September 30th press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“There’s a lot of debris left from the storm,” Guthrie said, “it is essential that when we clean up, you can help us expedite that if you will separate your debris into specific piles. Make sure you’re wearing appropriate safety gear when you’re cleaning up.”
Barely two weeks later, residents devastated by Helene faced an evacuation for Milton.
Thousands lined up at gas stations with bagged pumps or no-gas signs. Drives that should have taken only three hours took five, tolls were suspended, extra lanes were opened and residents rushed out of the Tampa Bay area.
Milton roared into Siesta Key the night of October 9th, battering the greater Tampa area. Millions lost power. Those who stayed watched their streets flood as they weathered the storm.
A week later, thousands remained without power. DeSantis addressed the outages in a recent press conference.
“We’ve now had over 4 million accounts restored to power since hurricane Milton came,” he said, “You’ve got about 170,000 accounts right now that are without power.”
As power was restored residents began returning to the Tampa Bay Area, a task that was easier said than done. The pre-hurricane gas crisis had only worsened. No new gas had been shipped into the area, leaving those who made it home unable to travel far.
The gas shortage has left Sun City Center resident Natalie Selvey unable to make the hour-long drive to visit her sister Rose at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.
“As soon as the gas issue resolves itself, I’ll come up,” Selvey said, “it’s getting really violent here at gas stations.”
Lines to gas stations were miles long in hopes of finding functioning gas stations and filling tanks. Governor DeSantis sanctioned public fuel distribution sites where residents could get up to 10 gallons of gas for free. He later proudly shared that gas was being brought into the state.
“We also have been able to see fuel really rushing into the state from Port of Tampa, Canaveral has doubled what they normally do to help backfill,” he said, “So we’re really, really happy to see that.”
While the region is striving to recover, significant challenges remain, and local residents are coming together, determined to rebuild and support one another in the face of adversity. With another six weeks left in the hurricane season, the road to recovery is long and community resilience will be tested in the days and weeks ahead.