Manatee County Recovery: One Year After Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Lingering Hurricane Damage

• ⚠️ One year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, visible damage persists across Manatee County.
• 🏠 Many families are still actively working towards recovering and returning home.

Resident Struggles and Hopes

• 🌊 Mary Brown's home experienced approximately 5 feet of water, and she is seeking funds to return to Rabonia.
• 🏡 Ethylene Lton has been displaced from her home, moving between her son's and sister's residences, and expresses a strong desire to go back home.
• 💸 Despite having flood insurance, residents like Ethylene have received insufficient funds for substantial repairs, with some still waiting for aid.

Manatee County's Recovery Programs

• 💰 Manatee County is establishing programs to provide much-needed relief and aid residents in getting back into their homes.
• 🎯 Oduko Uizo, Communications Coordinator for Lasting Manatee, is focused on raising awareness about available community resources.
• 📊 The county has secured nearly $253 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds from HUD to address damages from the 2024 hurricane season.

Future Preparedness and Funding

• 🗓️ Lasting Manatee programs are expected to launch by January, prioritizing low and moderate-income households for repairs and replacements.
• 🛠️ Funds will also support public facilities to improve drainage and retention ponds, aiming to mitigate future storm damage.
• 🗣️ Direct outreach will target heavily affected areas like Rabonia as program launches approach.
• 🏡 For those still waiting for assistance, the hope remains to rebuild and return home with the help of these initiatives.