As Hurricane Isaias quickly approaches the Florida Panhandle, there is an increased chance of flooding and heavy rain here in Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Make sure you are prepared for the storm and following any important updates at pinellas.gov/alert-pinellas/ & weather.gov/tbw!

Two years ago, Hurricane Milton struck our community while families across the Gulf Coast were still reeling from Hurricane Helene. My husband and I were living on Treasure Island at the time, and we watched the storm surge rush in and recede, leaving destruction in its wake. For many families, Milton came before they had even begun to recover from Helene. Homes were already damaged, infrastructure was already strained, and many were still displaced. The toll on our communities was extraordinary. We owe it to Florida families to strengthen our infrastructure, prepare our communities for the storms ahead, and make sure people have the resources and support they need before, during, and long after disaster strikes. We endured Helene and Milton together. We will never forget what our families went through, and we must never stop working to make our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient.