Couple who moved to Manatee County heartbroken after Milton ruins their ‘happily ever after’

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Milton destroyed mobile home parks in Manatee County.

It’s total destruction in the Tidevue Estates mobile home park and Manatee County with some residents losing their entire roofs in their homes a total loss.

For those residents that did not see the significant or extensive damage, it’s now neighbors helping neighbors.”

Mark Willis and Mary Joe Dulje moved to Manatee County from Kentucky seven months ago.

“This was our dream, both needed warmer weather, and so this was our happily ever after,” Willis said.

Milton shattered that dream.

Dulje and Willis evacuated with their two rescue cats, but when they returned their home was a total loss.

“The complete roof just got ripped off and thrown into the Shake Shack parking lot. You know it’s just heartbreaking,” he said. “It’s our first hurricane too for us.”

They are left numb and in shock.

“We’ve got major leaks,” Willis said. “Everything was soaking wet.”

Mobile home communities saw devastation beyond belief.

“We’ve all been through something very, very traumatic,” said Chief Scott Tyler, Palmetto Police Department. “It’s going to take a long time to recover from this, but people need to focus on their blessings and focus on each other.”

During the height of the storm, emergency services were suspended, but as soon as it was safe, Tyler said his officers followed up on those 64 calls they received during that time.

“They were almost exclusively welfare checks,” he said. “A lot of people calling from out of the area saying, ‘can you go check on my loved one’ and a lot of them were in the mobile home parks.”

Tyler said some stores are starting to re-open including Publix and Walmart. He recommended staying off the road to conserve gas, but mobile home residents need help now.

“Food is getting scarce,” Willis said. “Can’t get insurance and it’s gone, so we just hope FEMA will be here.”

Manatee County is opening Point of Distribution locations at the following locations. They are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Kingfish Boat Ramp (752 Manatee Ave, Holmes Beach)
• Blackstone Park (2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto)
• Rocky Bluff Branch Library (6750 US-301, Ellenton)
• GT Bray Park (5502 33rd Ave. Dr W., Bradenton)
• Pride Park (6032 9th St. E., Bradenton)

Palmetto Branch Library (923 6th St. W., Palmetto) will open on Saturday as another POD site.

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