In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the extensive impact of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9 as a Category 3 storm, causing significant damage across Hillsborough County. The hurricane brought sustained winds exceeding 100 miles per hour and resulted in over 595,000 customers losing power at its peak. The storm's northern eye wall contained the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall, leading to widespread infrastructure damage, including at least four confirmed tornadoes and excessive flooding.

The restoration process began immediately, with a focus on public safety and critical infrastructure, including hospitals and the port. TECO, the local utility provider, mobilized 6,000 out-of-state linemen to assist in the recovery efforts. Despite the challenges, including damage to 1,300 distribution poles and the loss of major transmission lines, power was restored to most customers within six days.

Officials emphasized that the failures in the electrical grid were not due to the infrastructure itself but rather the impact of fallen trees, which uprooted and damaged power lines. The discussion highlighted the need for improved tree management strategies and the potential for undergrounding utilities to enhance resilience against future storms.

Commissioners expressed gratitude for the swift restoration efforts and acknowledged the community's patience during the recovery. They also raised concerns about the safety of utility workers, noting instances of threats against linemen during the restoration process. The meeting concluded with a commitment to conduct a thorough review of the response to Hurricane Milton to identify areas for improvement in future storm preparedness and recovery efforts.