MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The impact of Hurricane Milton is evident along the Manatee County beaches, which were already recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
10 Tampa Bay's Jennifer Titus reports on the conditions at Bradenton Beach, where crews are assessing damage following two storms in the past month. Significant wind damage has been reported, with one house completely blown down by Milton, adding to the destruction many residents faced from Helene.
Bradenton Chief of Police John Cosby highlighted the importance of clearing debris and reopening roads. "The first step is to get this debris out of the way and get the roads opened up so our residents and business owners can come back and assess their property and start the process of rebuilding," Cosby said.
Cosby noted that restoring utilities is crucial, as the area currently lacks power, water, and sewer services. "Once we can get that taken care of, we can have some comforts to deal with, and then we'll start the rebuilding process."
"We were already well underway; some of our restaurants were ready to open before this came in. I’m hoping we can move at the same pace this time," Cosby said.
As debris from both storms litter the area, officials from St. John’s County and Mobile, Alabama, are on-site to assist with cleanup efforts. Crews are focused on removing downed power lines and debris from homes previously damaged by Helene.
Access to the island remains restricted for both residents and non-residents, with authorities stating it may take another day for the area to reopen.