‘It Was Getting Really Desperate’: Milton Evacuees Face Challenges As They Return Home

Hurricane Milton left a trail of devastation across Florida’s west coast, and residents like Christine Marr returned home to St. Petersburg to face harsh realities. When Marr arrived home last Thursday, she was greeted by no water, no electricity, and uncertainty about when life would return to normal.

Hurricane Milton’s Aftermath

“It was intense,” Marr said, describing the aftermath of the storm. The power outage lasted six days, finally being restored on Tuesday night, leaving her family without necessities. “There was no sewer system, so nothing could be flushed,” Marr explained. Additionally, residents faced a boil water notice, further complicating daily life. “None of us knew when the end would be in sight,” she added, emphasizing the stress and anxiety caused by the prolonged disruption. To survive, Marr’s family relied on a small generator that powered a fan and kept their refrigerator running. As days passed, the situation became more desperate. “It was getting desperate as we got to day three, day four, day five,” Marr said. Despite the slow return to normalcy, the storm’s impact lingers in the community, with many residents still grappling with uncertainty and ongoing disruptions.

Struggling to Regain Normalcy

For Adrianna Albelo-Hermida, who lives in Estero, about 10 minutes from Fort Myers, the effects of Hurricane Milton continue to disrupt daily life. Though she evacuated to Miami before the storm hit, returning home meant facing a community still grappling with aftershocks from the hurricane.

Albelo-Hermida recounted how, even days after the hurricane, small power surges occurred regularly. “Every single night we’ve been experiencing little surges,” she said. “Even during the day, we’ll just be at home or the university, and the lights will flicker for a little bit.” These intermittent outages are a constant reminder of the storm’s power and the fragility of the recovery process. Though her apartment sustained no significant damage, Albelo-Hermida expressed concern for others in her community who were not as fortunate. Many residents lost everything and now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.

Heartfelt Reflections on Loss and Recovery

As Floridians begin the long road to recovery, the emotional toll of Hurricane Milton becomes increasingly evident. Albelo-Hermida, feeling fortunate to have avoided major damage, said, “It’s hard knowing that there are people who were not as fortunate as I was. Some no longer have homes and have to restart their lives because they lost everything.” Her sentiments echo the broader sense of community and compassion in the wake of such devastation. Even for those whose homes were spared, the emotional weight of witnessing neighbors’ losses is significant. “My heart goes out to them,” Albelo-Hermida said, reflecting the shared pain and resilience that binds the affected communities.

In the days following the storm, residents across Florida continued to navigate the challenges left in Hurricane Milton’s wake. While power is being restored and daily routines slowly return, the long-lasting impact of the storm on both infrastructure and emotional well-being remains evident. For many, the process of rebuilding their lives has only just begun.