One Year Later: Florida Communities Still Recovering from Hurricane Helene and Milton

TAMPA, Fla. – One year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Florida, the impact on communities is still visible. The storms, which hit the Tampa Bay area in September 2024, left behind significant damage as residents continue to recover.

Last year, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend region, while Hurricane Helene followed just weeks later as a Category 3 hurricane. Although the Tampa Bay area avoided a direct hit, storm surge and heavy rainfall caused destruction. In some places, water levels reached six to eight feet, leading to unprecedented flooding.

In South Pasadena, Connie and Dave Winkler experienced devastating damage to their home. A year later, it remains empty, stripped of its belongings. “It looked like the spin cycle on a washing machine, refrigerators upside down,” Dave recalled, reflecting on the chaos. After extensive renovations just before the storm, they are now left with a shell of their former home, a stark reminder of the destruction.

Conversely, areas like Anna Maria Island are working to rebound. With more than $1 million in state funding approved for repairs to the iconic city pier, local leaders aim to restore the beloved landmark by late fall next year.

Meanwhile, Earl Wischmeier, who lives on Florida’s east coast, now raises his home to avoid future flooding after facing severe damage from both Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Others in Manatee County express similar sentiments, with some homes still in disrepair one year later.

In Clearwater, first responders performed over 500 rescues when floodwaters overtook Standard Apartments, marking one of the largest water rescues in Pinellas County‘s history. Residents in Forest Hills faced significant flooding, even in areas not categorized as flood zones, when retention ponds overflowed.

Tanya Crowley, a resident along the St. Johns River, continues her recovery efforts, using mulch to elevate her property in preparation for future storms. “I didn’t think it was going to be this bad,” she said, recalling how the river surged beyond its banks. Such efforts highlight the ongoing challenges residents face in the wake of the storms.

Despite the visible damage and lingering recovery efforts, hope persists in these communities as they work together to rebuild and prepare for potential storms in the future.