Hurricane Milton Spurs Historic Water Rescue in Pinellas County

Hurricane Milton, which recently swept through the Tampa Bay area, resulted in what Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described as “the most significant water rescue” in the county’s history. The hurricane, initially thought to have bypassed some areas, caused unexpected, severe flooding in parts of Clearwater, Florida.

Among the hardest-hit areas was The Standard at 2690 Apartments, where resident David Fletcher found himself caught by surprise when neck-deep water flooded the complex. Despite the location being outside the mandatory evacuation zone, over 540 residents needed to be rescued from their inundated homes. “I was sure, and I’m glad I was wrong, that we were going to see some casualties out of that,” Sheriff Gualtieri reported at a news conference on Thursday morning.

The unexpected nature of the flooding left many residents, including Fletcher, scrambling. Fletcher, who initially thought he had escaped disaster, was forced to evacuate when water rose to waist height in his apartment. The flooding, described by authorities as the result of heavy rainfall rather than storm surge, posed significant challenges for first responders. Clearwater Fire and Rescue’s Chief of Training and Special Operations, David Kadau, highlighted the complexity of urban flooding, especially in the dark, as first responders navigated power outages and debris to reach those stranded.

During the night, evacuees like Isiah Archer faced rising floodwaters that crested doorways, turning sandbag defenses ineffectual. “We weren’t told to leave after all,” lamented Archer, who had to evacuate with his family and their dog when flooding worsened. By morning, officials advised that tenants might need to stay away for at least 24 to 48 hours, though Fletcher doubted a quick return to normalcy.

The flooding impact extended beyond Clearwater, with DeLand in Volusia County also experiencing severe flooding, prompting city officials to extend a curfew. First responders in DeLand performed high-water rescues throughout the day, as evidenced by body-camera footage released by the city.