Milton Recovery: Gas Shortages and Ongoing Cleanup in Florida \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Floridians are facing widespread fuel shortages and embarking on massive cleanup efforts. As residents return home, many are searching for gas while assessing the damage caused by the Category 3 storm. With over a thousand rescues and damage estimates ranging from $50 billion to $85 billion, recovery is slow. Governor Ron DeSantis has opened fuel distribution sites and warned of ongoing threats, while President Joe Biden plans to visit the state and survey the devastation.
Florida’s Recovery After Hurricane Milton: Quick Looks
- Fuel Shortages Persist: Floridians struggle to find gas, with long lines at stations after Hurricane Milton.
- Massive Cleanup Begins: Residents are removing debris and addressing the damage to homes, particularly in low-lying coastal areas.
- Ongoing Safety Concerns: Governor DeSantis warns of hazards like downed power lines and rising rivers as floodwaters continue to pose a threat.
- Biden to Visit Florida: President Biden will survey the damage and push for more federal aid, while damages are estimated to reach $85 billion.
Deep Look
In St. Petersburg, dozens of people waited at a station that had already run out of fuel, hopeful that a new supply would arrive soon. Among the crowd was Daniel Thornton, who waited alongside his 9-year-old daughter, Magnolia, for four hours, having arrived at 7 a.m. “They told me they have gas coming, but they don’t know when it’s going to be here,” Thornton said. “I have no choice. I have to sit here all day with her until I get gas.”
State Efforts to Address the Fuel Crisis
Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the fuel shortages, announcing that the state had opened three fuel distribution sites, with plans for more. Residents are allowed up to 10 gallons each, free of charge. “As power gets restored and the Port of Tampa is open, you’re going to see the fuel flowing. But in the meantime, we want to give people another option,” DeSantis said. Crews are working to restock gas stations using the state’s fuel reserves, and generators have been provided to stations that remain without power.
Despite these efforts, many residents are still facing long waits, particularly in hard-hit areas where gas supplies are scarce and stations struggle to meet the demand. The distribution of fuel has become a priority as people need gas to power generators, clear debris, and drive to aid centers. DeSantis emphasized the state’s focus on getting fuel and resources into the hands of those who need it most, though challenges remain.
Double Disaster for Some
For those who returned home, the immediate focus shifted to assessing damage and beginning the cleanup process. In communities like Bahia Vista Gulf in Venice, the situation was particularly dire, with some residents facing damage from not just one, but two hurricanes. Bill O’Connell, a board member at the condo association, said they had just finished repairing flood damage from Hurricane Helene when Hurricane Milton caused even more destruction. “It reflooded everything that was already flooded, brought all the sand back on our property that we removed,” O’Connell explained. “It also did some catastrophic wind damage, ripped off many roofs, and blew out a lot of windows, causing even more damage inside the units.”
For many, the damage was extensive. In the fishing village of Cortez, residents worked tirelessly to remove debris from homes and streets, much like they had after Hurricane Helene. “Everything is shot,” said Mark Praught, a retired street sweeper who lives in the low-lying area. “We’ll replace the electrical and the plumbing and go from there.” Praught and his wife, Catherine, have lived in their home for 36 years. After Milton, they were left with an empty shell, having to discard all their furniture and rip out drywall ruined by floodwaters. Catherine described the moment of pure panic when Milton approached so soon after Helene, forcing them to pause their cleanup and evacuate once again.
In Bradenton Beach, Jen Hilliard helped a friend clean up debris from her home just a block from the shore. “This was all grass,” Hilliard said, gesturing to the sandy mess left behind by Milton’s storm surge. “They’re going to have to make 500 trips of this.” Inside the house, walls had been gutted, leaving exposed beams as workers struggled to repair the damage from both hurricanes.
Lives Lost and Communities Rebuild
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, tearing across central Florida and causing widespread destruction. The storm’s deadly power was felt across the state, with at least 10 confirmed fatalities. Milton flooded barrier islands, destroyed homes, and spawned deadly tornadoes, though officials noted that the widespread evacuations saved many lives.
Rescue operations have been ongoing, with over a thousand people saved from dangerous situations in the storm’s aftermath. Governor DeSantis has continuously warned residents to remain cautious, pointing to safety risks from downed power lines, standing water, and the potential for river flooding as rivers rise in the coming days.
More than 1.3 million Floridians remained without power as of Saturday afternoon, and the restoration process could take several more days. In addition to power outages, National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Close warned that rivers around Tampa Bay and northern Florida would continue to rise for four or five days, leading to further flooding. “You can’t do much but wait,” Close said. “At least there is no rain in the forecast, so we have a break here from all our wet weather.”
Economic Toll and Biden’s Visit
The economic cost of Hurricane Milton is staggering. Moody’s Analytics estimates that the storm caused between $50 billion and $85 billion in damages, with up to $70 billion attributed to property damage and an additional $15 billion in lost economic output. The effects of Milton, compounded by damage from earlier storms like Hurricane Helene, have left many Floridians in dire financial situations as they await insurance claims and federal aid.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden will visit Florida’s Gulf Coast to assess the damage and meet with local officials. Biden hopes to meet with Governor DeSantis and use the visit as an opportunity to push Congress for additional federal funding. The president has been pressing House Speaker Mike Johnson to call lawmakers back to Washington to approve more disaster relief funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration.
The Road to Recovery
As Florida works to recover from Hurricane Milton, the road ahead will be long and challenging. Communities are still clearing debris, rebuilding homes, and waiting for resources to arrive. Fuel shortages, safety concerns, and rising floodwaters remain pressing issues, but the spirit of resilience is strong.
Residents like the Praughts and Hilliards are determined to rebuild and support each other, no matter the obstacles. “Community is the best part, though,” said Hilliard. “Everybody helping each other.” Though Milton left a trail of destruction, the people of Florida continue to push forward, with hopes that the worst is behind them.
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