Hurricane Milton leaves Punta Gorda residents reeling
More than a week has passed since Hurricane Milton made landfall, bringing destructive winds and storm surges inundating Punta Gorda's streets, intruding into homes and businesses.
As residents begin the cleanup process, many express their frustrations and heartbreak. Local homeowner Bob Federici reflects on the devastation.
"There was, I guess they call it silt, from the hall," Federici said. "There had to be three inches of silt in this house."
For many, the challenges have felt relentless. Federici notes that Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton felt like one blow after another. For his family, these storms come after one of the hardest goodbyes they have had to make.
Bob and his wife are packing up what remains of their cherished 19th-century home.
"This used to be Mom's little office," he said. "She had the desk in there, and the washer and dryer were in there."
Hurricane Helene marked the first time storm surge flooding infiltrated their home. Just two weeks later, the water returned with Milton.
"At first, Helene was about here," Bob recalls, pointing to a mark on the wall. "And then this, this is Milton."
Cleaning up after two hurricanes feels like a gut punch, especially for Federici, who recently lost his mother-in-law.
"Mom lived with us for the last 12 years," he said. "My dad died. But she was 99, and she passed away about six or seven weeks ago," he shares, his voice heavy with emotion.
In a way, the Federicis are grateful that their mother did not witness the destruction.
"This has been hard, facing the loss of her, and then Helene and then Milton," he said. "I said to my wife, we've been married 51 years. We have nothing."
Now, while mourning her loss, they are determined to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
"Some of this stuff still in there is hers that I kind of pack up, and I'll just take it with me because I don't want my wife to miss anything," Bob said.
Among the few belongings left untouched by the storm surge are treasured memories.
"So she could sit and watch the kids and hear their laughter and stuff like that. So it was nice for her," he said.
Yet the reality of their situation is stark.
"There's absolutely no furniture, there's nothing. Yeah. You know," he said.
As they process their grief, the Federicis feel a profound emptiness.
"Everything I look at, I can remember doing," he said, recalling where they renovated the older home.
Looking ahead, Bob acknowledges the uncertainty of their future.
"I don't know," he said. "We are going to take a break from here, take a breather, and then try to figure out where we go with insurance and everything else."
Despite their heartache, the Federicis know they are not alone in the struggle to rebuild. They hold onto hope for one day returning to their beloved home.
