After the Florida hurricane, now its posible again to happen something terrible..
Siesta Key, Florida, on Oct. 10 in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Imagesg
On October 10, as the sun rose on the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Tampa Bay, the initial sentiment was one of relief. Milton, which had threatened catastrophic damage, veered south and spared Tampa from the worst. However, the reality on the ground was far more complex. While the region avoided a direct hit, the impact of Hurricane Helene just weeks earlier compounded the damage.
Though some structures, like Tropicana Field, suffered significant harm, the broader effects of both storms left many residents grappling with the fallout. I’ve found myself spending a considerable amount of time in Tampa, navigating its unique culture and climate while also dealing with the aftermath of Milton. My apartment was flooded, forcing me to discard furniture and carpets and spend hours cleaning up.
My work at a local business has been disrupted, leading to financial strain due to lost revenue and cleanup costs. While these issues might seem small in the grand scheme, they reflect the pervasive impact of the storms. Millions were left without power for days, and the region’s infrastructure was damaged, with fallen trees blocking roads and wrecking local businesses. The aftermath of Milton and Helene has changed life in Tampa in ways that may linger long after the storms have passed.
