An elderly Filipina tragically lost her life on her 73rd birthday while clearing debris from Hurricane Milton in Tampa, Florida. Luisa Santos, the operator of Oakland Manor Assisted Living, died on October 10 when a large tree branch fell on her as she worked to ensure the safety of her facility’s residents.
Santos couldn’t wait for professional help and began removing fallen branches herself. As she was clearing the debris, a heavy branch suddenly collapsed, crushing her. Santos’s dedication to her clients marked her final moments, as she selflessly worked to protect them.
In the wake of Hurricane Milton, Florida is slowly recovering, with hospitals and emergency facilities reopening after having evacuated patients and canceled surgeries. Filipino nurse Aaron Arcilla, who was on duty at a local hospital during the hurricane, shared in an ABS-CBN News report the challenges they face as the storm’s aftermath continues to strain healthcare providers.
“Many patients are still waiting to be discharged because they haven’t been cleared by doctors yet, but the storm forced us to keep them longer than expected,” Arcilla explained. “The nurses and doctors here are exhausted, both physically and emotionally, as we’ve been providing nonstop critical care.”
The hospital staff is working under immense pressure, as teams struggle to ensure everyone receives adequate rest while still attending to the needs of their patients.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to remain cautious as the state recovers. Hurricane Milton has claimed at least 17 lives, with millions still facing power outages. First responders have rescued approximately 1,000 people since the storm, but dangers persist, including floodwaters and downed power lines.
“We’re entering a period where fatalities are preventable,” Governor DeSantis warned. “We’ve already had deaths because of interactions with downed power lines in floodwaters. The hazards remain, so please be careful.”
Rescue and recovery efforts continue as communities work to rebuild in the storm’s aftermath.
