Erin Pohl, a former resident of Nevada, is grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back hurricanes that devastated Treasure Island, Florida. Reflecting on the destruction, she described the surreal scenes she encountered upon her return to the island after a Category 4 hurricane flooded the area.
Walking through her neighborhood, Pohl was struck by the sight of boats stranded in front yards, broken sea walls, and eroded sand dunes. The pervasive layer of sand from the flooding and the overall devastation left her in tears.
Previously, her unit, built in the 1950s, had never experienced flooding, so she was caught off guard when she had to evacuate, assuming she would find her home intact upon returning.
Before Hurricane Helene hit, Pohl noticed that Treasure Island was already submerged, heightening her anxiety as she waited for the storm to pass. Upon her return, she found a water line on the walls indicating the floodwaters had peaked around four feet inside her home, along with a nauseating smell of sewage that filled the air.
Despite salvaging what she could, Pohl soon faced the daunting task of applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA relief.
However, as another storm threatened the coast, she made the tough decision to drive over 20 hours back to Iowa. In a conversation with her father, she expressed her emotional exhaustion: I can’t do this again. He reassured her, urging her to come home.
Pohl is now uncertain about her future—whether she will return to Florida to try and recover her home or move elsewhere. Meanwhile, she is sharing her story and encouraging Iowans to support those still affected by the hurricanes in Florida, emphasizing the importance of community support: Caring is free.