AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the west coast of Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, residents there will get some help from Texas.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday he’s sending hundreds of crews across the southeast to help in ongoing clean-up from Helene and with recovery efforts. That includes Florida, where search and rescue crews will help along the gulf coast.
‘People are very anxious’
“People are very anxious and most people have evacuated,” Sue Rowe said. The longtime Sarasota resident is still dealing with clean-up from Helene that hit the area not even two weeks ago.
“We’ve always worried about the wind and the rain, but now this water and storm surge is a different animal,” Rowe said.
Abbott is sending crews from the Lone Star state to help in a lot of areas, including with swiftwater rescue, as storm surge remains one of the biggest concerns. It’s just one of the ways people from Texas are helping those impacted by the monster storm.
“We could have 10 to 12 foot storm surge, which means it would cover the entire house,” Tampa resident Jim Cazin said. He also lives in a low-lying area that’s prone to flooding.
‘You can’t get gas. Interstates are like a parking lot’
“You can’t get gas. Interstates are like a parking lot. And, at this point, [people evacuating] have to go somewhere inland,” Cazin added.
Despite the chaos a storm this size can bring, people are still finding ways to help each other.
“I love that the community is alerting each other to where the shelters are, where the gas pumps are,” Tampa resident Barbie Winstead said.
It’s a storm, however, where no one is taking any chances.
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Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN) -
Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN) -
Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN) -
Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN) -
Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN) -
Sue Rowe readies her house in Sarasota for Hurricane Milton. (KXAN)
“We have to protect our past as best we can but get ourselves safe and out of harm’s way,” Rowe added.
Millions of people now left to watch and wait for what Thursday morning will bring.
Austin Energy said it is not sending any crews to Florida because of prior commitments, however it did say crews it will send a handful of crews it contracts with to the Sunshine state.