Tampa family rides out Hurricane Milton

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Hurricane Milton is impacting those in Central Florida with heavy winds, flooding and heavy rains.

While Alabama is my home away from home, Tampa is where my family resides and where I grew up.

It’s been difficult watching videos and seeing photos of Hurricane Helen and Hurricane Milton tear through this beautiful city. Certain buildings I grew up passing by were seriously damaged.

Thousands of Central Florida residents have evacuated north amid the storm, but through it all, I was most worried about my family.

My family evacuated to Saint Petersburg and rode out the storm from there. I’m told they were in the shelter for nearly three days.

Though the storm has passed, thousands of residents are without power and water from the storm in their homes.

“It definitely looks like a storm went through here,” my father, Christopher J. Harris, said.

Our family is safe but also without power. They plan to stay somewhere safe that has power since the shelter has now closed.

“I know some people whose home is flooded, so you know, it makes me very grateful,” my brother, Christopher J. Harris II, said.

Our home had little to no damage, so we are grateful and keeping our city in our hearts.

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