Hurricane Milton: Impacts and Recovery

Posted On: November 4, 2024

For the fourth time in two years, Volusia County residents prepared for and endured a hurricane, demonstrating the resilience and fortitude of residents.

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole made their destructive visits in 2022, causing damages of $357 million and $495 million, respectively. Volusia County was spared from most of Hurricane Helene’s impacts in September, but in October Hurricane Milton brought up to 16.52 inches of rain, sustained winds of 62 mph, and wind gusts up to 88 mph, causing four tragic deaths, damaging 5,408 properties, and incurring $284,197,646 in property damage.

Through it all, Volusia County's Emergency Management Division coordinated disaster prepration, response, and recovery with the 16 municipalities and multiple local, state, and federal agencies. Emergency Management staff also opened the Citizens Information Center, which consisted of County employees who would go on to answer 4,125 calls for assistance; worked with the Florida Department of Health and Volusia County Schools to open seven emergency shelters that welcomed 1,032 evacuees; issued an evacuation order for the beachside and other vulnerable areas; and launched a volunteer effort to assist residents.

Other Volusia County divisions stepped up to the plate with these notable efforts:

• Community Information disseminated vital information to the community through news releases, news conferences, and social media. 
• The Volusia County Council issued a local state of emergency and waived fees for application, permit, and plan review fees through April 20, 2025, for the repair and reconstruction of residential and commercial structures directly affected by Hurricane Milton. 
• Votran and VoRide provided free rides to the shelters.
• Animal control officers ensured the safety and care of animals at emergency shelters.
• Emergency Medical Services assisted in the evacuation of two rehabilitation centers and saw a 33% increase in calls during the 72 hours of peak storm impacts and the initial recovery period.
• The Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Fire Rescue, Beach Safety, and Emergency Medical Services performed 178 high-water rescues with assistance from municipal fire departments, the National Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Coastal staff and contractors secured assets and placed sandbags around toll booths ahead of the storm. After the storm, staff repaired and reopened 14 pedestrian accesses and cleared debris from parks, off-beach parking lots, and beach approaches.
• Beach Safety staff secured beach assets while maintaining surveillance and lifeguarding responsibilities. They also staffed shelters as emergency medical technicians and were deployed with the National Guard to perform high-water rescues.
• Road and Bridge employees cleared roads and estimates that they will collect approximately 400,000 cubic yards of vegetative storm debris from County-maintained road rights-of-way.
• Mosquito Control conducted fixed-wing, aerial mosquito treatments across the county to manage increased mosquito populations following Hurricane Milton.
• Library branches opened as cooling stations after the storm and continue to provide assistance for FEMA registration.
• Community Assistance staff offered child care to working County employees, provided case management services to individuals at the transitional shelter, and helped transfer nearly 100 people from the shelter to their homes or temporary housing.
• Parks, Recreation and Culture staff removed debris from parks, trails, fishing docks, and boat ramps and reopened most of them.
• Resource Stewardship staffed shelters, led sandbag distribution at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, and inspected and instituted protective measures on County-maintained preserves.

“We had absolutely outstanding cooperation with our municipal partners as well as our state and federal representatives,” said Emergency Management Director Clint Mecham. “Everyone worked very well together and in a collaborative way to ensure we were providing the best possible service to our citizens. It was truly a coordinated team effort all the way around.”