Tampa resident Austin Crowell returned to his home in Tampa to find a path of destruction and a completely changed city.  “Tropicana Field lost its whole roof which was crazy, there was also a major crane that fell into a brick building down the street from me.”
Florida has been hit by two of the strongest recorded hurricanes ever. Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helena. Milton landed near Siesta Key on October 10 as a category three hurricane and has killed at least 14 people as of October 30. Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend area of Florida and has killed 230 people as of October 30.
People’s houses have been sunk completely underwater, in some places up to 7 feet. Wind speeds hit close to 180 miles an hour. These storms have devastated millions of people’s homes, cars, property, jobs, and lives while also causing billions of dollars in damages and forcing many people to evacuate. This destruction will take years to clean up and homes and people’s lives from Florida all the way to Tennessee will never be the same.
The destruction is terrifying for people there. And that’s not even mentioning those with family down in the heavily hit parts of Florida. “That’s very hard for me ( seeing hurricanes head towards her family) since I can’t do anything,” said Instructor Corban Vandam. Her Mom, dad, sister, and nephew all live in Bonita Springs, Florida which is south of Tampa. They were lucky during this hurricane and avoided severe damage, but they were not so lucky during Hurricane Ian which they were in the middle of. ”It really devastated the Fort Myers Bonita Springs area,” said Vandam. One strategy Vandam and her family use to try and ease the helplessness of being thousands of miles away from her loved ones when they are in danger is making a plan before the hurricane hits so they can stay in contact. And they try to communicate in some way every day. This plan helps a little, but it doesn’t make the terror go away and stress and fear of having family in Florida during hurricane season.
Crowell experienced these hurricanes firsthand. He lives in Tampa Bay and used to live in St Petersburg. He and his friends evacuated to South Miami when they heard the hurricanes were coming. The roads they drove on to get to Miami that same day were hit by 14 confirmed tornadoes.  “The flooding was several feet high into homes and vehicles. Streets are just lined with people’s belongings that have been brought out to avoid mold build-up,” Crowell said. The destruction and despair are now part of the daily lives of Tampa residents, and they will have to live with that for years to come. “The clean up and rebuild will take months if not years,” said Patrick Page Tampa homeowner.  His niece’s neighbor lost everything due to the flooding caused by the hurricane; their whole house was flooded. An entire 15-20 mile stretch in Florida was destroyed.
The destruction from hurricanes can be managed if the right precautions are taken.
Page gave some advice for this. Something many people don’t think about when they’re thinking about the devastation that goes with hurricanes is after the hurricane and what people do after. For example, filling the car up with gas BEFORE they hit. So if driving is needed to get supplies or even away you don’t have to wait hours for gas since everyone else is trying to do the same.  Or closing interior doors so that if a window breaks, only that room is affected. Another danger that happens after a hurricane hits is not having access to clean water. Page gave a solution, “you should fill the bathtub with water so if the water system fails you have clean water for cooking and for pets.” This can provide clean water for a few days at least until the necessary rescue services can get water to people.
The destruction brought about by the two extreme hurricanes is unmatched and will take years to clean up. The clean-up efforts are ongoing but the devastation will take years and years.