No time for a break: IAFF Relief operations reactivated in wake of Hurricane Milton 

October 11 • 2024

The IAFF Disaster Relief team is back in action after the second hurricane in as many weeks made landfall in Florida.  
 
Hurricane Milton rolled ashore as a Category 3 on Oct. 9 in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa, sparking 38 confirmed tornadoes. High winds and heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on several coastal communities.  

The storm caused $160 billion in damage and economic loss, according to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather. As of Friday, at least 16 people had been killed and more than 2 million in Florida were without power. 

IAFF 12th District Vice President Walt Dix is coordinating four-person Disaster Relief teams to handle requests as they are received from members. 
 
“Unlike Hurricane Helene where we saw a lot of flood damage, what we are mainly seeing now is wind damage,” Dix said. “One member had a trash dumpster land on his roof. That’s how powerful these hurricane and tornado winds were.” 
 
Twenty-one members had submitted requests for assistance as of Oct. 11.  

There will likely be more as members are able to check on their homes. The IAFF is also offering financial assistance to those displaced by the storm, particularly hard-hit counties Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Lee.  

“Recovering from back-to-back hurricanes will take time and a lot of patience. But this IAFF is on the ground to take the burden off the backs of our members,” General President Edward Kelly said. “And we will continue to answer the call for as long as needed.”