Hotel Guests and Employees Rescued from Knee-Deep Hurricane Milton Floodwaters: 'Had to Pull Together'

Mar. 15, 2025

A car is seen parked as it rains heavily in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 9, 2024.Photo:CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty

Several people were rescued from a Holiday Inn in Florida after floodwaters rushed into the inland hotel asHurricane Miltoncame ashore.

A crew from theHillsborough County Sheriff’s Office“swiftly rescued” a group of people who were suddenly stranded at the hotel “amid severe flooding in Plant City,” according to a post shared on the department’s various social media pages.

The HCSO said it used amphibious vehicles to rescue the guests and employees. Among them was manager Brenda Coleman, who toldCNNshe had never experienced a situation like this before.

Also at the Holiday Inn were lifelong Plant City residents Jack and Liz Gibbs, who have stayed at the hotel during previous storms.

Jack told CNN that he told his wife “We’ve got to do something” after noticing water had entered their room, and was about an inch or two deep.

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One individual who was rescued from the hotel had “medical conditions,” according to the sheriff. “I imagine they were quite frightened,” he added.

No injuries were reported, according to CNN. Coleman tearfully told the outlet that “it’s hard” for her to see the hotel experience this devastating flooding.

“I’ve been here 14 years, and I’ve never seen it get this high,” the hotel manager said.

At leastfive people have diedafter Milton slammed into Florida as aCategory 3 hurricaneon Wednesday, Oct. 9.

More than 3.3 million people remain without power in the state as of Thursday, Oct. 10, according toPowerOutage.us.

source: people.com