While not as visible as the structural damage across Tampa, the financial toll of back-to-back hurricanes is hurting families, too.
In East Tampa, some homes and businesses sustained a combination of wind, rain and storm surge damage between Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Even more households lost the food in their fridge, consistent income and reliable transportation in the past month, said the CEO of Corporations to Develop Communities of Tampa Ernest Coney.
“When people are hit by hurricanes, when their power goes out — if you are an hourly worker — number one, of course, you’re going to mostly lose your food, and then you have to start thinking about your bills,” Coney said. “You have to start thinking about, you know, how do I make up for lost income? How do I help get new food into the household?”…