Recurring Hurricanes… Florida Residents Rebuild Lives After Milton

While the effects of Hurricane Milton are still being felt in many areas of Florida, residents find themselves caught between rebuilding and preparing for a new wave of hurricanes.

Despite the great efforts made by local and federal authorities, many residents live in a situation where there is constant expectation and anxiety.

The stories of Florida residents reveal the challenges of living in coastal areas that are constantly at risk from storms, and show their resilience in the face of recurring natural disasters.

Hurricane Milton cut power to millions of homes in Florida. Archive

Siesta Key resident Chris Fiore told Reuters she was preparing to get new home appliances to replace those that were submerged by Hurricane Helen a few weeks ago. Instead, she found herself using a broom to push mud and seawater out of her apartment.

“I don’t think I’ll move anywhere else,” Fiore said. .

In the case of Colten, a citizen of Florida, he posted a video on the X website, showing the intensive efforts made by the authorities, including the police, the army, and the Executive Agency The US crisis, in an attempt to return things to normal after the hurricane.

Hurricane Milton #FEMA #HurricaneMilton #PascoCounty #National Guard pic.twitter.com/RXpHyLpZWF

— CL (@ColtonBTLS) October 12, 2024

Pat Hurst, who has lived with her husband Bill in Siesta Key since 2011, described her feelings to Reuters by saying: “Paradise is still paradise despite all this chaos. .. stressed.”

In the same context, Jeff Brooks, an employee of a local electric company, highlighted in a post on the AX website the efforts being made to restore power to the affected areas, and repair electricity and light poles damaged by the storm.

Making progress at Bay Pines Blvd (Pinellas County), as crews work in the air to repair two transmission towers damaged by #HurricaneMilton which is of service to many @DukEnergy customers in the area. Interstate transmission lines are the power grid. It is important to get them on. pic.twitter.com/8Oo2Z87NYc

— Jeff Brooks (@DE_JeffB) October 12, 2024

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that rescuers started on Saturday to help people trapped by floods, while electricity and fuel are still not available in a large number of areas.

He said in a press conference held on Saturday that many stations are without fuel and that efforts are continuing to give them what they need, “but the problem is the lack of power that puts interfere with the operation of these stations,” he said.

DeSantis revealed that three temporary (mobile) stations were opened to provide fuel to the people from 7 am to 7 pm Florida local time, and that the authorities are trying to open more of these stations.

The governor of the state said that there is no problem with fuel, “but the issue is about getting enough information about the needs of each affected area to deliver fuel to these areas,” as he said.

DeSantis explained that the process of fueling the stations is proceeding without problems, with the reopening of some of the affected areas after removing the debris and restoring electricity.

Governor DeSantis holds a press conference in Bradenton following Hurricane Milton https://t.co/in1n3syXG1

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 12, 2024

Regarding electricity, the Governor of Florida said that the concerned authorities have been successful in restoring this service to more than two million and six hundred thousand people, and that efforts continue to bring electricity back to another million and four hundred thousand, noting that many parties from outside the state and even from Canada are participating in the repair of the distribution network.

State authorities decided, as a result of the hurricane, to close 53 schools, and DeSantis revealed that 43 of these schools will open their doors to students again next Monday.

DeSantis said that the administration of US President Joe Biden agreed to provide federal aid so that residents and local authorities could cover their costs, and that the authorities provided their needs for water drinking, food and other essential supplies to the affected areas. .

Florida Senator Rick Scott, for his part, said in a press conference held on Saturday that he met with the US President to determine the needs of the state, and asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the rest of the concerned authorities the funding they need to begin work to remove debris, restore services, and help those affected.

Rep. @michealgwaltz in Volusia & Lake Counties to receive a briefing from both @VolusiaSheriff @SheriffChitwood & @LakeCountySO Sheriff Peyton Grinnell on Hurricane Response #Milton. The effects we saw from the air & on the water only reinforced the need for… pic.twitter.com/s8EfvpdOrs

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 12, 2024

Scott also asked these federal authorities to open stations near the affected areas, noting that “efforts are moving quickly to solve the problem of fuel shortages at the stations, and restoration of electricity will take days due to the level of damage,” he said. said.

Just two weeks after Hurricane Helen, Hurricane Milton flooded several areas and caused extensive damage, destroying many homes and buildings, including the Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has enough money to address the immediate needs of people affected by Helen and Milton but will need additional funding in the future, FEMA Administrator Diane Creswell said Friday.

The Disaster Relief Fund helps pay for rapid response to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Congress recently provided new funding to the fund with $20 billion – the same amount that was provided last year, according to the Associated Press.

The media reported that at least 17 people had died as a result of Hurricane Milton so far, according to Reuters.