PROGRESS VILLAGE, Fla. — Twanda Bradley said she didn't have time to process her emotions the morning after Hurricane Milton made landfall.
There was only time to take action.
"The people are broken. The people are crying. The people are confused," she said. "I can't add to that."
Bradley, who serves as Progress Village Civic Council president, went around the community to check in on the flooding and ensure any stranded neighbors had immediate assistance.
"It was just overwhelming," Bradley said. "[Hurricane] Debby gave us rain to our ankles, you know, and then the next thing I know, here we are to our waist."
Roads became rivers. She said the flooding brought snakes, turtles, tadpoles, and fish.
Flooding is not uncommon in the community, she said, but Milton brought flooding to a different level.
Today, a number of homes remain damaged from the storm. Several neighbors, many of whom are senior citizens, didn't have flood insurance.
Bradley, who spent countless memories at "The Village" as neighbors call it, said the distress from trapped and affected elderly neighbors got her the most.
"That was very disheartening," Bradley said.
While Bradley said she is grateful for the resources and the ongoing efforts to mitigate flooding, she's hoping more could be done. She said flooding has always been a concern in the more than 60 years since the formation of the historic Black neighborhood.
She also hopes for stronger plans to help neighbors return after significant flooding events.
"Have a plan of us getting back. We feel that we are secondary," Bradley said.
Longtime neighbors like Rosieta Daniels said she's heartbroken from the damage her home sustained.
"I never expected what I walked into," Daniels said. "All my stuff got damaged."
Daniels, whose family goes back generations, said she's named after her mother.
The flooding destroyed belongings like her bedroom set, stove, furniture, and electronics. For now, she's hoping assistance from resources like FEMA can help.
There are efforts to improve drainage at The Village through a multi-million dollar county project slated to complete late next year.
In the meantime, Bradley said neighbors worry about what the next major storm could bring.
For now, she longs for solutions to prevent heavy flooding like what the community experienced and for the improvement of affected residents' mental well-being. In addition, the rebuilding of damaged homes and even properties Bradley said needs support like Progress Village Middle Magnet School.
"My hope for Progress Village is always to remain a family. That's my hope," she said.
A nearby comfort station is available in the community at Progress Village Senior Center. Residents can also seek help with FEMA applications at the site.