By Emily McLaughlin
TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region on Sept. 24 as a major Category 4 hurricane and dissipated on Sept. 29. Helene hit 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee with heavy rains and winds of 140 miles per hour. Helene then traveled toward Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, causing enormous flooding.
For Hurricane Helene, The University of Tampa’s alert system, UTampa Alert, called for a closing of the University on Wednesday, Sept. 25, through Friday, Sept. 27, urging students to leave the school as soon as possible. UTampa reopened campus on Sunday, Sept. 29, with classes resuming on Monday, Sept. 30.
After two weeks of recovery with massive amounts of debris and water damage from Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton hit. Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, late on Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm with winds up to 130 miles per hour.
With Hurricane Milton, it was announced on Sunday, Oct. 6, that UTampa would not have classes on Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9. Tampa Bay residents had a mandatory evacuation of Zones A and B effective on Monday, Oct. 7. Due to the uncertainty of the landfall location and hurricane track, classes were canceled for Thursday and Friday.
It was easy for some students to enact their evacuation plans. But for others, it was much harder. Kelly Garcia Avila, a sophomore at UTampa who was originally from New Jersey, was one such student who was unable to go home.
“Everything was double the price for flights home,” said Garcia Avila. “The worst part was not being able to be with my family during this very traumatic time.”
As Hurricane Milton continued to move across Florida, there were massive amounts of debris and metal along roads, and many people lost power and water.
While residents on the west coast of Florida faced traumatic damage, residents on the east side witnessed their share of the damage as well. Tornadoes were generated by Hurricane Milton ahead of the storm’s arrival, causing massive amounts of debris and devastation on the east coast of Florida.
Retired hairdresser Theresa Gadoury lives on the east side of Florida in a town called Palm City in the rural area. Gadoury faced a lot of debris that she was not expecting to get.
“I am a native of Florida, and I have never experienced tornados like this ever,” Gadoury said. “You don’t have time to feel scared. You just have to react.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, tremendous amounts of debris and flooding spread around the west and east sides of Florida.
Back in Tampa, UTampa announced that students could arrive back on campus beginning early Sunday, Oct. 13, and planned to resume classes on Monday, Oct. 14.
UTampa Alert explained that students who miss classes will not be penalized. However, many students were frustrated that the school wanted students back so quickly after the mandatory evacuation order was lifted on Oct. 10.
Conner Fowler, a senior at UTampa who lives off campus, had a few issues regarding how the university handled the issue.
“I feel that UTampa kind of told students ‘here is what’s happening and figure it out on your own,’” said Fowler. “I get they have to keep accreditation, but as a student who didn’t have power until late Tuesday night/early morning Wednesday in my area, it was hard to come back while trying to finish my work and couch surf between friends.”
In the aftermath of the hurricanes, UTampa initiated weekend classes for the Fall 2024 semester. Students at UTampa have shown that they are not fond of this new adjustment.
“I personally am not fortunate enough to have a lot of money in my possession throughout the year,” Fowler said, “I work and sometimes that’s weekdays, but most times weekends, so I was kinda like, what do you think I’m gonna do? Quit my job to go to class? Absolutely not. I still need food and gas.”
Depending on how faculty chooses to make up missed class time, there will be Saturday classes that are conducted on Oct. 19 and 26; Nov. 2, 9, 16, and 23; and Dec. 7. There will only be one Sunday class, which will be on Dec. 8.
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Photo courtesy of BBC.com