Hoosiers spread out across Florida as second hurricane draws closer

INDIANAPOLIS — Hurricane Milton is expected to be the second deadly and destructive storm to hit the southeast United States in just the last two weeks.

Hoosiers from across Indiana are already deployed across the region with more on the way. Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday night into Thursday morning hammering the state with a life-threatening storm surge.

Husband and wife duo Denny and Bonnie Moss left downtown Indianapolis Wednesday morning. They’re driving a Red Cross Mission Response Vehicle to help in any way they can.

This is the couple’s first mission with the Red Cross and they’re prepared to encounter devastation from this storm.

”Your heart just goes out to them,” Bonnie said. “Knowing that they’ve lost everything and they really don’t have anything to go back home to.”

They’ll stop in Tallahassee Thursday, fill their van with supplies and head out to wherever they’re needed most. Denny said their assignment is very fluid.

”Could be sheltering, could be feeding, could be delivering supplies,” Denny said.

They’re a part of more than 60 employees and volunteers from the Indiana Red Cross spread out throughout the southeast right now helping people recover from Hurricane Helene and preparing to help people with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

”I think the storm surge is going to be something that is new to us,” Denny said. “We’ve seen a lot of tornadoes here in the Midwest, but nothing like the storm surges that they’re seeing there. It just wipes out everything.”

Right behind the Mosses will be the Indiana National Guard. Gov. Eric Holcomb deployed 400 guardsmen to Florida Wednesday afternoon.

They will aid with hurricane relief efforts in Florida and help with route clearance, shelter management, supply distribution, and command and control.

Indiana Task Force 1 has been deployed for more than two weeks now and has been back and forth between Florida and North Carolina.

“We basically transferred from Florida to North Carolina and now we are working our way back to assist with Milton,” said Battalion Chief Jay Settergren.

Even more Hoosiers have flown planes or driven trucks with supplies to affected areas.

Meanwhile, former Hoosiers now living in the Sunshine State have made for safer areas.

”Whatever happens, at least at this point, we know it’s going to be very serious,” said former Hoosier Jim Atterholt.

Atterholt and his wife moved from Indianapolis to Fort Myers a few years ago. Atterholt now serves as the Vice Mayor in Fort Myers.

The Atterholts rode out Hurricane Ian from their condo two years ago. This time around, they’ve decided to leave town, saying that experience is not one they want to have again.

”The storm surge was so high and the waves were crashing against the building and you could feel the building swaying back and forth because we had 150mph winds,” Atterholt said. “It was pretty scary.”

With two devastating storms hitting Florida within two weeks of each other, Atterholt is hoping the devastation to his home isn’t as bad as Hurricane Ian.

”Most folks will be gone, they’re prepared better, they’ve secured their properties better and I just think we’ll hopefully come through a lot better than we did before,” he said.

He’s also thinking about all of the first responders already in and making their way to Florida.

“There’s a fatigue there,” Atterholt said. “The folks who work for the utility company, they’re at this thing 24/7. It just wears and tears on people.”

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