Clearwater mother describes destruction of Florida home from Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helen Brings Devastation to Clearwater Beach
Exclusive Interview with Laura Bradford, Whose Home was Flooded and Destroyed
Joining us now is Laura Bradford, whose home in Clearwater Beach was flooded and destroyed by Hurricane Helen. Laura’s husband works for the City of Clearwater’s Fire Ocean Rescue Division, and their two young children were evacuated prior to the storm, remaining safe while their entire home was filled with four feet of water.
Laura, thank you for joining us tonight. You’re currently in your car, having just left your home. How are you doing tonight?
Laura: Thank you for having me. I’m sorry for what we’re having to go through, and it’s definitely a tough night. But we’re doing the best we can under the circumstances. We’re grateful that our family is safe, and that’s what matters most.
Laura, your friends in St. Petersburg were surprised by the storm surge. Did you experience something similar?
Laura: Yes, we did. We always evacuate when there’s a mandatory or recommended evacuation. We never take any chances. Unfortunately, our home took on a few inches of water, and the storm surge came in around 4 feet. With the next storm, they’re saying it’s going to be 5-8 feet, and we had installed floodgates, but it still surpassed what we had gotten with Adelia.
Laura: You know, I have children, and I know that a home is much more than just a house. Today is definitely a tough day. My kids evacuated with me, and we have family taking care of them now. We shielded them from the storm, and that’s how we’ll continue to treat it moving forward. It’s all about keeping them safe.
What’s next for you and your family? Have you gotten any idea of when you can get back to your house, or when you’ll have power restored?
Laura: I think there was power on the beach, but unfortunately, there were some issues last night with power surges, and a few homes caught on fire. I think the people down there are playing it very safe and keeping their power off to prevent any issues. We’re hoping to get full access back to the beach tomorrow, which will help us start figuring out how to move forward.
Laura: Definitely, these storms always teach us something. I think what this storm taught us is to never let our guard down. It can be easy to get complacent, but it’s always worth the inconvenience to keep your family safe and evacuate when necessary.
We want to thank you, Laura, for joining us on such a difficult day. We hope the best for you and your family, and that you can rebuild and move back into a home that’s perfect for you and your family.
