Family-like Gulfport community fears losing each other during Hurricane Milton

GULFPORT, Fla. (WFLA) — A concern in Gulfport Tuesday morning was the boats still there wrecked against the seawall from Hurricane Helene.

One can imagine how destructive they could be flying through already torn-up neighborhoods, but the concerns are even bigger than that for such a tight group of people.

Gulfport is a quaint close-knit community on the coast of Pinellas County.

Last-minute preparations were underway on Tuesday morning as dozens of homes were still turned inside out.

Neighbors like Joshua Taylor were more than willing to stay and help.

“We’re family, you know,” Taylor said. “Whenever anything goes wrong, whenever anything happens, I can tell you I’ve never gone hungry even if I was homeless. I’ve never gone thirsty even if I didn’t have a dollar.”

Taylor said he’s lived here for 15 years and has served the community working all sorts of jobs at various local businesses.

In Gulfport since 1989 is O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille, a business across from Williams Pier that’s been closed since Hurricane Helene.

“We’ve had a minimum of 30 volunteers every day that have shown up and just worked and worked and worked without me having to ask anybody anything,” said Joe Guenther, O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille Owner.

Locals said many people are evacuating at the order of emergency leaders in the county.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for all Zone A, B, and C (including high-rise buildings), all countywide mobile home parks, and all residents with special needs. Plan to be in the location where you will ride out the storm, outside of an evacuation zone, before tropical storm winds arrive in our area on Wednesday.

“Don’t put the people that are already risking their lives,” Taylor said. “Don’t put them at even greater risk to save you because you’re ignorant.”

Homes are shells neighborhood after neighborhood.

The county has several shelters open for anyone who needs them. You can find the full list at the bottom of this article. The City of Gulfport has also been doing a lot to keep the community as safe as possible, in the short amount of time they’ve had to recover and prepare.

“Yesterday there were sailboats all along here [seawall] and they’ve been working tirelessly throughout the night,” Guenther said. “Gulfport has done a great job at getting rid of them because you know potentially a sailboat could come right through the building,” said Guenther.

If Hurricane Milton were to make landfall in Pinellas County, Max Defender 8 meteorologists predict Pinellas County could have the worst storm surge in all of Tampa Bay.

“My biggest fear would be to walk down the streets and not see a familiar face,” Taylor said.

Joe Guenther said O’Maddy’s is here to stay, no matter how much destruction Hurricane Milton brings.

“You can see on the sign we just put up. ‘We stand united together better and stronger’ and that’s the way I feel about Gulfport,” said Guenther. “Gulfport is an amazing little town.”

Eight shelters are now available in Pinellas County (Anyone can go to a pet-friendly shelter, but only special needs residents can go to a special needs shelter).

• Lealman Innovation Academy, 4900 28th St N, St. Petersburg (general population)
• Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, 1660 Palmetto St, Clearwater (general population)
• Largo High School, 410 Missouri Ave. N., Largo (general population & pet friendly)
• Gibbs High School, 850 34th St. S. St. Petersburg (general population & pet friendly)
• Palm Harbor University High School, 1900 Omaha St, Palm Harbor (general population & pet friendly)
• Palm Harbor University High School Bldg. 19 (special needs only)
• Dunedin Middle School, 70 Patricia Ave., Dunedin (special needs only)
• Oak Grove Middle School, 1370 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater (special needs only)

Additional shelter openings will be announced if needed.

The county is running their PTSA buses free of charge to take you to a shelter.

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