Native from Hampton Roads fortunate after Hurricane Milton hits Florida

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — People in Florida are assessing the damage and getting back on their feet after Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane.

Hampton Roads native Sam Rizzo, who currently lives in Orlando, said he’s fortunate he didn’t experience the devastation that most have.

“So luckily, being in Orlando, not being on the coast, it’s not as bad because we’re just inland, so it just dies down by then,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo wasn’t directly affected by the storm, but many people around him were. At least three million customers lost power, and crews are working to restore electricity to the area.

“They’re getting it done,” Rizzo said. “I’ve seen power trucks and power companies going by. We had a bunch of power men coming through because they were waiting to see like where their assignments were.”

And though some are hurting now, Rizzo said he’s able to pay it forward in his job serving customers at a local restaurant.

“Definitely grateful,” Rizzo said, “but also, it was nice because, being where I am, there’s a bunch of hotels. So, the past couple of days as I’m serving people there, [they’re saying], ‘Thank you for being open because we’re here from Saint Pete, we’re here from Tampa,’ we’re here from the places that they have to evacuate, So it was nice to be able to support those people.”

Rizzo said he will be on the lookout because he believes these storms are getting stronger over time.

It will be another long road to recovery for the millions affected by Milton.

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