Nina Pileborg, grown up on Gotland, has lived in Florida for three years. The family had just moved into the 100-year-old house in Saint Petersburg, outside Tampa, when Helene struck.
So much water came into the house, up to three feet (about a meter), that the entire downstairs was destroyed. All furniture was gone, everything in the kitchen, refrigerator, stove, washing machine and dryer in the laundry room, she says, adding that they will need to tear up the floor and walls, as well as get new windows and doors.
But they are not alone, the whole street has dragged out their destroyed belongings. A willingness to help each other in the devastation has been there, according to Pileborg.
It really hurts your heart when you see how life has been destroyed for many.
"Taking it one day at a time"
With Hurricane Milton expected, the wind is expected to be the worst. Therefore, all the debris is now a safety risk. The authorities have done what they can to clear the streets, but not everything has been done, according to Pileborg.
During the storm Helene, she and her seven-year-old daughter took themselves to their apartment in Redington Shores, about two miles west of Saint Petersburg, and saw from the ninth floor how the destruction spread below.
This time, they decided to take themselves about three hours north to Jacksonville.
With Milton, there is a risk that the whole house will disappear.
We will find a solution, of course, but some days it's harder to look ahead than others. We take it one day at a time.
Not evacuating
In contrast to Pileborg's family, Leif Oskarsson, originally from Stockholm, will not evacuate, but stay on Clearwater Beach.
It's clear we're a bit worried, but I've lived here since 1990, so you get used to storms, but this is the worst storm we've had. It's a bit worrying, says Oskarsson, whose neighborhood has also been hard hit by Hurricane Helene.
The authorities have urged residents to evacuate, and from 19:00 local time – when the hurricane is expected to be at its worst – you can no longer leave the islands as the bridges will be closed.
The reason we're staying here is that I have my businesses here in Florida. I have to make sure my employees are okay, he says, adding that they have prepared for the hurricane's arrival for three days.
In addition, he wants to make sure that elderly people in the building are safe during the storm.
