Florida residents brace for back-to-back hurricanes after '45 years of good luck'

As Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida's west coast, Siesta Key residents face back-to-back storms after 45 years of “good luck.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Milton was a Category 3 storm and was expected to make landfall late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning near Tampa, Florida.

Hurricane Helen hit the area late last month and many residents were beginning to put the remaining pieces of their lives together when Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico.

FOX 13 in Tampa spoke with Fred Schuh, who, along with his wife, built a home on Siesta Key, where they raised their children and created a lifetime of memories.

FLORIDA HURRICANE DRIVER SAYS MILTON INVITED TO 'RACE' FOR RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE

Fred Schuh of Siesta Key, Florida, is bracing for a second hurricane in two weeks as Milton sets its sights on Florida's west coast. (FOX 13 in Tampa)

Schuh's house was almost destroyed during Helene, and images taken by the station showed that the water level outside the house had reached about a third of the height of the front door, just in below the door handle.

A line along the perimeter of the house, about knee-deep, was a reminder of the height of the water level inside.

AS HURRICANE MILTON THREATENS FLORIDA, FOOD AND DRINKS ESSENTIAL FOR RETREAT DURING STORM

A water line around the perimeter of the interior of Fred Schuh's home in Siesta Key, Florida, shows the extent of the rising waters during Hurricane Helene. (FOX 13 in Tampa)

As a dumpster waits in the yard of Schuh's home to hold his destroyed possessions and memorabilia, a new storm approaches and is expected to cause even more damage.

With so many unknowns, Schuh isn't sure what will happen to his home during Hurricane Milton. A tree could fall on his house or there could be 5 to 6 feet of water inside.

HURRICANE MILTON FLORIDA EVACUATIONS: WHAT TO PACK BEFORE THE STORM

The water rose so high during Hurricane Helen in late September that it reached about a third of the height of Fred Schuh's front door. (FOX 13 in Tampa)

“We only had three the first time, but I probably expect that because of this increase the number will be higher,” he told the station.

While Fred collected some of his belongings and secured the house for round two, he also paused the recovery process for round one.

“What are you going to do? It's Mother Nature,” he said. “We've been over 45 years lucky. I never thought it would disappear in two weeks after all this time. But that's how it goes.”

HURRICANE MILTON WILL INTENSIFY AND INFLATE BEFORE REACHING FLORIDA

Fred Schuh of Siesta Key, Florida, is bracing for a second hurricane in two weeks as Milton approaches Florida's west coast. (FOX 13 in Tampa)

Venice Police Chief Charlie Thorpe warned residents in his community south of Sarasota to prepare now.

“This is going to be a very significant storm,” the chief said. “I've told people many times in many meetings. We were hit by Ian, not hammered. It will be a hammer, I feel, in these circumstances.”

Thorpe told FOX 13 he's concerned some people won't take the warning seriously, like when Helene hit the area two weeks ago and officers were called to rescue people who didn't. not evacuated.

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“I'm really concerned that some people who are in mobile home parks who might have said, 'Hey, we're done with Ian,' might not be the same in my mind, in this case, and especially near the coastline.”