Carrying on
![Businesses and homes suffered damage from Hurricane Milton in October. Several buildings were damaged at Al’s Family Farms [shown here], which has sold fruit for decades. But the business, like others, is bouncing back as customers return following repairs.](https://www.tcbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/familyfarm2-1200.jpg)
Businesses and homes suffered damage from Hurricane Milton in October. Several buildings were damaged at Al’s Family Farms [shown here], which has sold fruit for decades. But the business, like others, is bouncing back as customers return following repairs. AL’S FAMILY FARMS PHOTOS
Community deals with horrendous effects from Hurricane Milton
BY JERRY SHAW
Employees at Al’s Family Farms on Kings Highway gather with volunteers in front of a damaged building, ready to help with cleanup after the hurricane.
Recovery efforts continue for dwellings and structures in St. Lucie County following October’s destructive paths from Hurricane Milton and the historical number of tornadoes that terrified residents, causing loss of life.
Tornadoes wiped out a parking garage for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and obliterated the new $61 million warehouse in South Florida Logistics Center 95 along with damaging houses and stores.
According to the latest figures from St. Lucie County and FEMA, 1,797 homes were damaged throughout the city of Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and unincorporated areas of the county.
Of those homes, 180 were destroyed. “A majority were in Spanish Lakes,” said Erick Gill, communications director for the county. Six people died in the Spanish Lakes section from the tornadoes that struck the Treasure Coast area on October 9.
The county public safety office reported that 238 homes suffered major damage while 1,195 homes sustained minor damage.
Estimated costs for public assistance from FEMA amounted to $12.7 million. That money went to local government agencies to cover costs for damages, Gill said.
FEMA’s individual assistance funding came to $8.5 million. Of that, $5 million was approved from the housing assistance program with $3.5 million approved through other needs assistance. Some 10,680 people were referred to the individuals and households program.
During the recovery effort, county workers removed 245,236 total cubic yards of construction debris, vegetation and mulch.
There have been no updates on replacement plans for the county sheriff’s office’s 10,000-square-foot facility destroyed by a devastating tornado. The building’s steel structure was used for parking vehicles.
PULLING THROUGH
Despite the losses, signs of resilience and optimism have prevailed for people throughout the area.
Al’s Family Farms on Kings Highway, which has served locals and tourists for decades with citrus fruit, is bouncing back from damage to its buildings, once again picking and shipping fruit as well as operating its gift shop.
Its big red barn has been repaired for packing house operations and the little red barn’s grill and store reopened in early January to sell fruit, honey and jams.
“Crops are doing well,” said an office spokeswoman. “We lost about 25 percent of it. But what we have is really good right now.”
The office had to be moved to the big red barn as repairs continue. “The biggest thing is getting organized and getting things together. The community has really been great.”
