Thirteen days after Helene, some Florida families were facing another hurricane before the first round of damage had even been fully assessed.
Before landfall
Somewhere to go
On October 6, three days before landfall, we secured discounted rooms at a Hilton in Orlando—$68 a night, with breakfast and parking included—and made the offer public.
The post was shared about 700 times.
We helped place more than 20 people in emergency lodging in the days before the storm. Pets were included, which was an important part of the decision for several families who contacted us.
Two of the youngest people we helped in 2024, shared with their family’s permission.
The texts we got back
Messages from people we placed in emergency lodging, shared with their permission. Names left out.
“It’s beautiful thank you so much I’m going to sleep so well after today 🙏”
“I appreciate all of this so much I’m just going to wash some very soaked clothes and head over 🤗 Thank you so much again! 🙏”
Who we helped
The people
Peter
Evacuated a dorm · one cat
A college student ordered out of their dorm, with no family nearby and a cat the shelters they found would not accept. Peter told us they were considering riding out the storm in their car.
We helped place Peter and their cat in a hotel that same day.
Two years later, Peter is doing much better and tells the story in the film below.
“My cat and I have only been able to safely make it through Hurricane Milton because of the help given to us by this organization.”
Amy
Hit by Helene, then Milton · family of six
A single mother with two children, two cats, and a dog. Helene had already flooded her house and totaled her car. Milton arrived before an adjuster had visited.
With no car and nowhere suitable to go, Amy needed transportation and lodging for the entire household. We helped coordinate both and got the family more than 100 miles inland before landfall.
Maria
First-time homeowner · roof damage
Maria had owned her first home for less than a year when Milton badly damaged the roof.
We documented the damage, provided a written report, and told her about SBA disaster loans, which she had not known were available to homeowners. She later told us that the loan helped pay for repairs and mitigation work at an interest rate under 4%.
The Road to Safety: Peter’s story, in Peter’s own words.
During
Staying reachable
On October 8 we offered free one-month talk-and-text plans for people with eSIM-compatible phones. Maintaining a way to contact family, emergency services, and assistance organizations can become especially important when cellular service is disrupted.
We also ran a non-emergency storm line for questions about forecasts, evacuation zones, shelter status, pets, windows, medical equipment, and other practical concerns.
One of the plain-language briefings we published as Milton approached.
Can I still leave if I’m in Zone B?
My window is cracked. What do I do?
My daughter’s on a ventilator, and I’m staying. How can I keep the power on?
Milton’s other hazard
Tornadoes well outside the cone
Milton produced a significant tornado outbreak across Florida as it approached, including areas well east of the storm’s track.
Tornado warnings during Milton.
It is one reason our storm updates covered more than the forecast cone. Families farther inland could still face serious hazards even without storm surge.
After
Documentation
On October 11 we began offering free drone roof and property documentation across the Tampa Bay area. We surveyed dozens of properties.
One of the properties surveyed across Tampa Bay after Milton.
The service includes a drone flight conducted under FAA Part 107 and a written report documenting visible conditions. Families can keep that report with their insurance, FEMA, SBA, or other recovery records.
The record
The totals
20+
placed in emergency lodging before landfall
Dozens
of free roof and property surveys
50+
individuals and families assisted across both storms
$0
operating budget
The response was delivered through donated resources, volunteer labor, and community partnerships. It showed what those relationships can accomplish, but it also showed why FLP needs resources in place before the next storm.