In Florida’s Pinellas County, law enforcement carried out several rescue operations after Hurricane Milton, including a significant effort at an apartment complex where 430 residents were evacuated from floodwaters that reached the second-floor balcony, according to a county emergency management official.
Meanwhile, crews are busy clearing roads, repairing infrastructure, and restoring essential services after the county faced a “one-two punch” from two major hurricanes less than two weeks apart, stated Ashley Giovannetti, the public information officer for Pinellas County Emergency Management.
“We really got hit hard, first with Helene and then with Milton,” Giovannetti remarked.
Hurricane Milton brought more than 18 inches of rain and wind gusts exceeding 100 mph to the area, she noted.
As of early Thursday morning, nearly 400,000 homes and businesses—about 70% of the county’s customers—were still without power, according to poweroutage.us. Some residents also remain without water service, Giovannetti added.
“What we need moving forward is empathy for the residents,” she emphasized. “They have just experienced two major hurricanes in our area, and many have lost their homes and livelihoods, forcing them to search for new places to live.”
County officials are working to secure either temporary or permanent housing for residents currently in shelters, but Giovannetti acknowledged that “it’s going to take time.”
