Fuel Shortages Hinder Cleanup Efforts After Hurricane Milton in Florida

The state has deployed fuel reserves and provided generators to gas stations.

A Florida Highway Patrol officer observed fuel depot staff distributing gasoline to residents on October 12th in Plant City, Florida.

CORTEZ, FL – Floridians recovering from Hurricane Milton, many of whom had evacuated hundreds of miles away, spent much of the day on October 12th searching for fuel as shortages swept across the state.

In St. Petersburg, many people lined up at a gas station that was out of fuel, hoping it would soon receive more supplies. Among them were Daniel Thornton and his nine-year-old daughter Magnolia, who arrived at the station at 7 AM and waited for four hours.

“They told me fuel is on its way but didn’t know when exactly,” he said. “I have no other choice. I can only sit here with her all day until we get some fuel.”

On October 12th, Governor Ron DeSantis informed reporters that the state had set up three fuel distribution points and planned to open more. He stated that residents could receive a free ten gallons of gasoline each.

“It’s clear that as power is restored… and Port Tampa Bay opens, you’ll see fuel flowing in,” said DeSantis. “In the meantime, we hope to give people another option.”

Officials are using state fuel reserves to replenish local gas stations and providing generators to those still without electricity.

Those who returned home were assessing damages and starting the arduous cleanup process. Some, like Bill O’Connell, a board member of Bahia Vista Gulf in Venice, thought work was done after Hurricane Hermine when apartment associations hired companies to treat, dry, and clean units. But Milton reversed that progress and caused additional damage, according to O’Connell.

“It re-flooded everything already submerged, bringing back the sand we had cleared from our property,” said O’Connell. “There was also catastrophic wind damage, tearing off many roofs and blowing out windows, causing more internal damage to units.”

The two hurricanes left a devastating mess in Cortez Fishing Village, a community of 4,100 residents along the northern edge of Sarasota Bay, with its simple single-story wooden and stucco homes struggling to clear broken furniture and branches, piling debris on streets as they did after Hurricane Hermine.

“Everything is ruined,” said Mark Praught, a retired street sweeper in Manatee County who saw four feet of storm surge during Hermine. “We’ll have to reinstall electrical and plumbing systems from there.”

Praught and his wife Catherine lived for 36 years in a low-lying home that now looks like an empty shell. All furniture had to be discarded, walls and brick and tile floors needed thorough cleaning, and drywall had to be removed.

Catherine Praught said they felt “pure panic” when Hurricane Milton threatened Cortez shortly after Hermine, forcing them to pause cleanup efforts and evacuate. Fortunately, their home was not damaged by the second storm.

“This is our home,” said Catherine Praught. “We just hope insurance can help us.”

In Bradenton Beach, Jen Hilliard shoveled wet sand mixed with rocks and tree roots into wheelbarrows.

“This used to be grass,” Hilliard said, pointing at the sandy mess underfoot. “They will have to do this 500 times.”

Hilliard moved to Florida six months ago, living further inland, but was glad to help with cleanup efforts at a friend’s home just one block from the beach.

Furniture and appliances were left outside as drywall inside walls had been removed after Hurricane Hermine caused flooding. Inside, walls were opened up four feet high, exposing beams below.

“You have to improvise,” she said. “But the community is great, everyone helping each other.”

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, sweeping through central Florida, flooding barrier islands and causing deadly tornadoes that killed at least ten people. Officials say casualties would have been higher without widespread evacuations.

As of October 12th, over a thousand people had been rescued after the storm, said DeSantis.

The property damage and economic costs are estimated in the billions.

On October 13th, President Joe Biden will inspect hurricane damage along Florida’s coast. He expressed hope to meet with DeSantis during his visit.

This visit offers Biden another opportunity to urge Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to convene lawmakers back in Washington before election recess to approve more funding, something Johnson has said he would not do.

Biden is emphasizing the need for Congress to act now to ensure that the Small Business Administration and FEMA have the funds needed to continue operations through the hurricane season, which extends into November in the Atlantic region.

DeSantis welcomed the announcement of a federal disaster declaration approved on Saturday and said he received strong support from Biden.

“He basically said you’re doing great. We are supporting you,” DeSantis said about his conversation with Biden. “We made huge requests, and we got what we needed.”

Moody’s Analytics estimated on October 12th that the economic cost of the storm would range from $50 billion to $85 billion, including over $70 billion in property damage and up to $15 billion in lost economic output.

As recovery efforts continue, DeSantis reminded people to be cautious, mentioning ongoing safety threats such as downed power lines and standing water. According to PowerOutage.us data, more than 1.3 million Floridians were still without electricity as of October 12th afternoon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Close said river levels would “continue rising” over the next four to five days, causing flooding along rivers primarily around and north of Tampa Bay where rainfall was heaviest, compounded by previous hurricane season downpours.

“All you can do is wait,” Close said about the impending rise in river waters. “At least there’s no rain forecast for now, nothing substantial. So we’re getting a break from all the wet weather.”

By Russ Bynum, Brendan Farrington and Ty O’Neil; Farrington reported from St. Petersburg. Associated Press reporters Chris O’Meara in Lithia, Florida; Curt Anderson in Tampa; Terry Spencer outside Fort Lauderdale; Stephany Matat in Fort Pierce, Florida; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: Transport Topics