Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott has reported that St. Petersburg, Florida, bore the brunt of Hurricane Milton, with the storm causing significant damage from wind and rain. While the storm did not bring the worst potential storm surge, the impact on the area was still substantial.
Scott expressed astonishment at the extent of the damage, particularly highlighting the severely damaged Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. He emphasized that in his 42 years of living in Pinellas County, he had never witnessed such destruction.
According to Scott, Hurricane Helene struck offshore about 100 miles from the county but still managed to bring in a powerful storm surge that devastated the barrier islands. Hurricane Milton, on the other hand, primarily unleashed strong winds and heavy rainfall across the region.
Some areas in Pinellas County received up to 17 inches of rain, coupled with unprecedented wind speeds that left a lasting impact on the community. Scott described the weather conditions during the storms as unlike anything he had seen before in the area.
The consecutive hits from Hurricanes Helene and Milton have left St. Petersburg residents grappling with the aftermath of the natural disasters. The local authorities are working diligently to assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected by the storms.
