In less than two weeks, Florida has experienced two major hurricanes, both of which left a mark on our properties and communities. Our teams in Tampa were in the early stages of cleaning up after Hurricane Helene, but their priorities soon shifted when they learned Hurricane Milton was soon approaching.
Hurricane Milton made landfall last night just 13 days after Helene. We are happy to share that we have checked in with all associates in our Florida markets, and they are all safe. Through both hurricanes, our dedication to looking after associates, residents and properties is stronger than ever. Our Florida associates did an outstanding job preparing and they are committed to working together as we face the challenges ahead.
“Throughout all of this, Tampa teams have felt the unwavering support of our entire company,” said partner and regional vice president Kristen Rutledge. “We could not be more grateful.”
Some of the challenges our Tampa properties are experiencing include inconsistent power, trees down, and significant roof damage at The Boulevard. Despite deadly storm surge predictions, Tampa avoided the most severe impacts, though some areas still experienced 18 inches of rain.
“Now, we shift to the next phase to assess the damage and clean up,” added Kristen. “This is what we do best: providing the excellent customer service our residents deserve.”
Our properties in Fort Lauderdale-Miami also did an exceptional job in their preparations, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to delivering the best customer service possible.
The properties sustained minor damage despite 126 tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service across the state yesterday, the most ever issued in a 24-hour period for the state since 1986.
“I could not be more proud of our teams in Florida because of their preparation and attention to detail,” said partner and regional vice president Sal Gracia. “This isn’t just about weathering the storm—it’s about coming together as one team, stepping up, and showing the relentlessness that defines us. We’ll face these challenges head-on and come back stronger.”