Almost three weeks ago, Hurricane Helene; a Category four hurricane left a trail of destruction as it demolished states throughout the East Coast. The storm’s relentless winds and furious rain crushed homes and tore up land while being responsible for the death of over 200 people. While dealing with the aftermath of what was thought to be the worst storm ever to hit Florida, Hurricane Milton, a Category three hurricane slammed the coast less than two weeks after the previous storm, almost breaking those fresh records set by Helene.

Helene’s strong winds and torrential downpours left homes and people in shambles. The storm destroyed homes, businesses, and state-owned buildings. Although Helene hit Florida as a category four storm, the near-record-breaking fifteen-foot storm surge and the powerful wind destroyed everything in its path.

Marley Black, a Tampa resident, states, “This is one of the hardest things we have been through.” Black and her family started preparing for Helene when it became a category-five hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Milton’s similar wrath was responsible for just as much destruction as Helene’s. Milton is the source of over three million residents having no power. Luckily, Milton is not the reason for many deaths, unlike Helene, totaling 17 losses.

“‘What we can say is the storm was significant, but thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario,’” Governor Ron Desantis says. Though the storm was not ideal, Milton’s devastation was not nearly as bad as anticipated. 

Before the storm had hit the coast, meteorologist William Brangham stated, “‘As it churned across the Gulf of Mexico today, Milton fluctuated between Category 3, 4, and 5. Regardless, forecasters say it could be one of the most destructive storms on record.’”

It may seem as though the upper East Coast has never received hurricanes of this scale, but there have been many tragic storms in history. In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy, a Category three hurricane, directly hit the tri-state area, flooding many coastal towns throughout Connecticut, including Milford. 

Although hurricanes are typically associated with catastrophe and destruction, they also allow communities to connect and rebuild together. The aftermath of hurricanes encourages acts of kindness and selflessness. 

“My family and I have never felt closer,” Black states. It is awesome how people share resources and responsibilities to help their communities recover from storms. 

People can meet others in their community and create relationships that could last a lifetime.