A year has passed since Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton swept across Florida, but the disruption and destruction they caused continues to linger in many communities.
The Salvation Army is maintaining its commitment to long-term recovery, working through Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) to restore normalcy and quality of life for storm survivors across the state.
“The Salvation Army always integrates recovery into our disaster preparedness plans, so we not only respond rapidly to emergencies; we also arrive planning to stay involved long after the initial crisis passes,” said Steven Hartsook, Florida divisional director of emergency disaster services. “We know that for those traumatized by devastation and loss, recovery takes many months and sometimes years.”
Statewide Impact and Ongoing Recovery
After early season Hurricane Debbie (Cat 1) hit Florida’s Big Bend on August 5, 2024, the state was struck by the much stronger Helene (Cat 4, Sept. 26) and Milton (Cat 3, Oct. 9) just two and a half weeks apart at the peak of the season.
A staggering 52 of Florida’s 67 counties were impacted and included in the federal disaster declaration for Helene and Milton, prompting the formation and activation of LTRGs across the state. Currently, nearly 40 LTRGs are operating in Florida.
LTRGs use a case management approach to connect various organizations, pooling resources to obtain necessary materials, labor, and funding. These groups address the unmet financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of community members, helping them bridge gaps on the road to recovery.
The Salvation Army is a key participant in these LTRGs, focusing on providing support for unmet financial needs. Due to the generous support of donors, the organization has allocated a budget of $3.75 million for Florida recovery efforts from the 2024 storms.
“When the cameras point elsewhere and others move on with their lives, The Salvation Army will still be there, restoring hope to storm survivors and those in need,” Hartsook added.
2024 Hurricane Season Initial Response
| 2024 Hurricane | Canteens (Mobile Feeding Units) | Meals | Drinks | Hygiene Kits | Water Cases | Hours Served |
| Debbie | 7 | 8,402 | 2,333 | 2,000 | 23 | 2,402 |
| Helene | 34 | 52,637 | 26,554 | 1,532 | 2,773 | 9,367 |
| Milton | 40 | 167,803 | 81,459 | 21,796 | 5,618 | 16,152 |
| 2024 Totals | 81 | 228,842 | 110,346 | 25,328 | 8,414 | 27,921 |
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
