Fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine. As my daughter counted the ambulances rushing toward Tampa while we left the city behind, I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

Fear, exhaustion, and anxiety took over as my family braced for what was to come—Hurricane Milton was projected to be the strongest storm our area had experienced in nearly two decades.

I’ve lived in Florida for almost five years and have witnessed some severe weather, but nothing could prepare me for Milton.

Thankfully, the storm itself was not as horrific as anticipated; however, the aftermath has been worse than I had expected. As of now, we’ve been without electricity for over 24 hours; it’s sweltering inside our homes and our food has gone bad. Fuel is unavailable within a 20-mile radius, and the few fast-food places that reopened are facing long lines.

This scale of disaster wasn’t something I had planned for in 2024.

My spouse is an active-duty member of the U.S. Army, and during mandatory evacuations due to natural disasters, we have certain benefits. We’re partially reimbursed for hotel and travel expenses during our time away from home, and we were fortunate to receive a $600 grant for uncovered costs.

Even though I’m thankful for this support, our family has still faced significant financial losses due to the storm, a situation many are sharing. Numerous individuals impacted by recent hurricanes have depleted their emergency savings and financial reserves. Some are even dipping into retirement accounts to recover their livelihoods.

Home insurance rates are likely to soar

Home insurance costs in Florida are already exorbitant. In fact, I hesitate to file an insurance claim for fear of higher monthly premiums. I cannot afford a rate increase; we were just getting by before the storm hit.

Many may not realize that standard homeowners policies usually don’t cover flooding, which can be financially devastating in a state where floods are common.

My insurer does offer a $500 grocery replenishment claim to help restock our fridge, but I wonder what the long-term consequences will be.

I believe in the resilience of my city, and I trust Mayor Jane Castor to lead us through this. However, we need a more robust plan for both physical and financial recovery in our community. Over half a million families in my area live paycheck to paycheck, and experiencing two natural disasters in quick succession is devastating.

Stop the political games and assist us

We don’t need loans, which only complicate our struggles further. Political maneuvering and the bureaucratic obstacles preventing our families from prospering must cease. We are fed up with our lives being used for political discussion without any genuine action for improvement.

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton have caused havoc in our communities, the emotional impact is beginning to weigh heavily. I am confident we will rebuild and recover, but, for now, I feel pain, and I just want to return home.