'We'll get through this': Officials send messages of support to Milton victims
State leaders and federal representatives have made statements recognizing the severity of the storm while pledging support.
As Florida tries to pick up the pieces after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials have stepped forward to offer support and solidarity with affected communities.
Several celebrities, including actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, and Tom Brady have donated millions to help victims get back on their feet.
State leaders and federal representatives have made statements recognizing the severity of the storm while pledging support.
“You face two hurricanes in a couple of weeks — not easy to go through — but I’ve seen a lot of resilience throughout this state,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters at a briefing in Sarasota, adding he was “confident that this area is going to bounce back very, very quickly.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor echoed that sentiment when speaking with MSNBC in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, saying the battered city, which saw a hangar damaged at Tampa Airport as well as flooded streets, would pull through.
"We'll get through this and we'll come out even stronger," she said. In the same interview, Mayor Castor thanked the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its support before, during, and after Milton, and praised the help received from state-level officials.
Mental health and natural disasters
Severe weather events like hurricanes can have a negative, long-lasting impact on mental health.
A 2024 study suggests as much as one-third of people affected by an extreme weather event could experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression as a result. Evacuation, extreme property damage, or sustaining an injury during an event can heighten the risk.
In Canada, Indigenous communities in Canada have faced mental health challenges following disasters due to their remote locations and historical trauma, exacerbated by events like the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires.
Recognizing the need for mental health support in the months following a natural disaster has increased in recent years with several stateside organizations offering to help victims of Helene and Milton.
Here in Canada, the government offers a provincial breakdown of mental health support services.
