After Hurricane Milton Struck Florida, Service Members Responded - and So Too Did the USO

By Danielle DeSimone and Trey Smith

On the evening of October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s western coast as a Category 3 storm. With a large portion of Florida still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Helene just two weeks prior, this second storm has left even further destruction in its wake.

The storm’s devastation caused over 20 fatalities and left over 3 million Floridians without power. The local community is now recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, and the National Guard, the Coast Guard and members of other branches sprang into action to help in the storm’s aftermath.

These service members, many of whom may have been working in various disaster zones following the impact of Hurricane Helene, were now faced with aiding in the recovery efforts of yet another natural disaster, and the USO was there all the same.

National Guard and Coast Guard Activate for Hurricane Milton Response When Hurricane Milton first wreaked havoc on Florida’s western coast on the night of October 9, 2024, it brought sustained winds of 120 mph, torrential rain and deadly tornadoes.

Before Hurricane Milton struck the Florida coast, experts and government officials had already warned of its dangerous impact and had issued mandatory evacuation orders for many communities in the storm’s path. Given that large swaths of Florida were already reeling from flooding and damage to their homes from Hurricane Helene, evacuation from Hurricane Milton was crucial for many of these citizens. By the time Hurricane Milton began barreling toward the state from the Gulf Coast, it had reached a maximum intensity as a powerful Category 5 storm.

In anticipation of the storm, the National Guard activated 6,000 members to support the disaster response and assist with the cleanup process, to include clearing streets and neighborhoods.

Since the storm’s passing, the Florida National Guard has rescued hundreds of members of the Florida community and has cleared debris to aid in the distribution of food and water, as well as other critical supplies. The Coast Guard was also extremely crucial in the recovery effort. As the storm quickly approached the shore, members of the Coast Guard were ready to help the community by providing aerial, search and rescue and logistical assistance as needed.

The USO Provides Support in the Wake of Hurricane Milton As members of our military supported the Florida community, the USO has been there to support military members as they work in the disaster zone.

Over the past several weeks, a fleet of Mobile USO teams have been operating in the southeast region – including Florida – in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which struck in late September. As soon as Hurricane Milton made landfall, these Mobile USO teams began reorganizing resources in order to deploy support members of the National Guard responding to the storm. Upon arrival, USO teams have provided crucial support to service members working around-the-clock to support Florida citizens.

Mobile USO units and the teams that operate them provide service members with a moment of respite after long days working in the wake of the storm. In addition to offering classic USO amenities like Wi-Fi and device charging stations, Mobile USO vehicles are also stocked with snacks, water and sports drinks to keep service members properly fueled and hydrated so they can stay sharp during their missions. With electricity, water and cell service extremely limited – or nonexistent – in the wake of a hurricane, having a space where they can access air conditioning, a cold glass of water and Wi-Fi and a charging port to reach out to their loved ones is crucial to boosting morale among responding service members.

These resources might seem like a small reprieve in light of the immense work required in natural disaster relief, however, having small moments of respite after responding to so much destruction can make all the difference in service members’ operational readiness and well-being as they prepare to head out onto another mission. After all, it is important to remember that for many members of the National Guard who are currently leading hurricane relief efforts, the areas they are responding to are their homes. They are members of the communities that have been affected by the storm, and they had to leave their own loved ones behind to go help others in need. Seeing this level of destruction within their own communities can take its toll.

Now, as the Mobile USO team in Florida wraps up their operations surrounding Hurricane Milton, they are hitting the road again and joining USO teams still on the ground in North Carolina, who have continued to provide support to National Guard members serving in this area. The destruction of Hurricane Helene continues to have devastating effects on local communities in North Carolina, and the people serving in our military are still working around-the-clock to deliver critical supplies and clear roads. Aside from Mobile USO teams delivering support where it’s most needed, a temporary USO Center has also been built to provide a physical space for these service members to briefly rest, check in with their loved ones and refuel. The USO will continue to provide these resources in North Carolina over the next several weeks as service members carry out their crucial work.

At the end of a long day in the field, working in disaster relief, having the support of the USO can make all the difference in the operational readiness and morale of these service members as they prepare for another day of work. And as long as the people serving in the National Guard and other branches of the military are working hard with continued Hurricane Helene relief, the USO will be right there beside them, supporting them through their missions.