TAMPA, Fla. – A major hurricane had not struck the Tampa Bay area directly in more than a century. That streak ended abruptly last year with back-to-back storms, leaving behind destruction from which the region is still recovering today.
In this special report, we’re back in the height of another hurricane season. So, we’re taking you to different communities around west Florida and over on the east coast to assess the ongoing recovery and reveal the lessons learned.
One year ago, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm in the Big Bend region of our state. Even though the Tampa Bay area didn’t take a direct hit, the region still sustained major impacts.
Storm surge would reach heights of six to eight feet in some areas, more than we have seen in decades and maybe more than some Floridians have seen in their whole lives.
Then, just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, just five miles from Sarasota, as a Category 3 storm. It brought heavy rainfall and damaging winds to our area, further wrecking communities that were already struggling to recover from Helene. The winds even ripped the roof off Tropicana Field, damage that is still being repaired today.
The storm would continue to move through the state, producing an outbreak of tornadoes — the most in Florida — in a single day.
After the storms last year, a drive down the streets of a South Pasadena neighborhood revealed countless people picking up the pieces of what was left. Now, the neighbors who are left describe it as a ghost town. A couple who lost their home right after the storm — then again, more recently — and those raw emotions are still there.
Connie Winkler standing in front of their pool this year and last year.
One thing that has become more popular in beach towns is seeing more elevated homes. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the house-lifting industry gained national visibility. It expanded more through the years after other major storms hit the United States. Locally, you used to see one or two elevated homes in an entire neighborhood, but now you will see entire communities transformed.
Crews from JAS Builders in the final stages of elevation for a Treasure Island home (Erica Riggins/Spectrum News)
On the east coast of Florida, Earl Wischmeier’s home flooded in 2022 from both Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. He has now opted to raise his home to avoid future floodwaters and opt out of coverage to insure it. Here’s what his recovery looks like and how he feels about the process.
Earl Wischmeier’s elevated home. (Spectrum News/Asher Wildman)
In Manatee County, there are some homes that look almost untouched one year later. One house was completely knocked off its stilts, and another that was pushed completely off its foundation. Those houses are pretty much in the same condition as they were left after the storm. There are signs around the property warning people to stay away, as well as part of a trailer that was crushed under the home that was next to it.
Fifteen minutes up the coast, and one Anna Maria icon is looking to make a comeback. The city is in the process of restoring the city pier. The state budget allocated more than $1 million in funding to rebuild the pier. City leaders believe it will cost between $6 – $9 million to repair the entire pier, including the restaurant. The mayor of Anna Maria says they are working with FEMA and the county to seek extra funding. The city has set a goal of reopening the pier by late fall of next year.
But, overall, the three cities that make up Anna Maria Island — Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach — have come a long way and for some residents, it’s been a full-time job. Here’s a look at how the recovery effort for the centerpiece of the city of Anna Maria rushed to get back open.
While Hurricane Helene caused major storm surge, Hurricane Milton dropped a record amount of rain. In St. Petersburg, 18 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. Tampa also saw about one foot of rain in one day. And just like we saw with Helene, many water rescues were performed after Milton.
In Clearwater, first responders rescued more than 500 people from the Standard Apartments when it flooded. In some areas, the water was neck-deep. It was Pinellas County’s largest water rescue on record. A manager at the apartment complex said they’re now renting some apartments, but other units are still being repaired.
In Tampa, the Forest Hills neighborhood also sustained quite a bit of flood damage, even though the neighborhood is not in a flood zone or near the coast. Nearby retention ponds overflowed, and pump stations couldn’t get the water out fast enough. We spoke to a resident to see how the last 12 months of recovery have been and what the city is doing to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Forest Hills, Oct. 2024 (Courtesy: Rob Seal)
While Milton caused a lot of damage along Florida’s west coast, its heavy rain also caused major flooding problems to areas inland, including areas along the St. Johns River. If you were to visit the area now, you would see people still repairing flood damage, as well as bracing for what could come next.
People living along the St. Johns River in Seminole County brace for what could come next, while still repairing flood damage from Hurricane Milton one year ago. (Philip Petersen, Spectrum News staff)
One popular beach destination in Hernando County is back open to the public. For many, Pine Island Beach Park is a beloved slice of paradise for visitors to unwind and soak in the Florida sun, but the park was forced to close after damage sustained from the hurricanes. Here, we take a look at the newly reopened park and how it is back to helping people create new, lasting memories.
For many, like Gabriella Schianodicola, Pine Island Beach Park is a beloved slice of paradise for visitors to unwind and enjoy the Florida sun. But the park was forced to close after damage sustained from hurricanes Helene and Milton. (Spectrum News)
