Many Warriors had nothing worse from Hurricane Helene than a power outage, while others experienced more extreme conditions like flooding. As Helene swept through the area, residents faced the storm with a mix of preparedness and uncertainty. Interviews with Warrior students reveal the varied impacts of the hurricane, from severe property damage to flooded buildings.

Sasha Brkic, a resident of Largo, chose to stay put during the storm. “No, I didn’t evacuate,” she
said. However, her house in the Madeira Beach area was left in ruins, with flooding reaching up
to the ceiling. “My house needs to be bulldozed,” she said, reflecting on the extensive damage.
She’s grateful that she has another place to stay in Largo with no serious damage.

In contrast, Alexis Peterson chose to remain in her fourth-floor condo, and despite the storm’s
strong winds and rain, she reported minimal personal impact. “My apartment lobby got flooded,
but we were okay,” she explained. Even so, the aftermath still posed challenges, such as being
unable to drive over the bridge near Madeira due to flooding. Like many residents, Alexis and
her family took precautions as Helene approached, filling buckets with water and stocking up on
non-perishable food items like Pop-Tarts when officials announced potential water shut-offs in
her area.

These Warrior stories shared by Sasha Brkic and Alexis Peterson highlight the varied impacts of Hurricane Helene on the community. While some residents faced significant challenges, like
the devastating flooding of Sasha’s home in Madeira, others, like Alexis, managed to stay safe
through the storm’s chaos. 

As the community begins to recover, it’s clear that the support of its members will play an important
role in overcoming the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.