The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached nine in Pinellas County and two in Tampa as of Saturday afternoon, primarily affecting residents in mandatory evacuation zones. Unfortunately, the fatalities in the Tampa Bay area represent a significant portion of the nationwide storm-related casualties.
Most of the victims died as a result of drowning when water inundated their homes, with many being found amid debris.
One of the victims, 80-year-old Patricia Mikos, perished after returning to her apartment at Dunedin’s Honeymoon Park to retrieve her keys; the building subsequently collapsed and caught fire. According to reports, the Dunedin Fire Department was unable to reach her unit because of the rising water levels. Mikos was well-known in the neighborhood for her purple vases and lawn ornaments, which remained outside her damaged home, now twisted and mangled. Neighbors expressed their heartbreak, recalling how much she was cherished in the community.
While her family chose not to comment, bystanders observed the wreckage with distress. The street was submerged, and traffic cones blocked access. Nearby, a woman faced anguish as she assessed the damage from a distance.
Other confirmed drowning victims included 89-year-old Jerome Waite, discovered in his St. Petersburg garage, and Donna Fagersten, 66, along with 71-year-old Aiden Bowles, found drowned in Indian Rocks Beach homes. Additionally, Rachel Burch, 37, was discovered in Treasure Island; Marjorie Havard, 79, in St. Pete Beach; Francis Wright, 71, in Madeira Beach; and James Thompson, 55, in Redington Shores.
The identity of the ninth victim remains undisclosed, but news reports indicate that an adult male was found drowned in Indian Rocks Beach.
Earlier on Saturday, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri noted that one individual in Treasure Island suffered a heart attack induced by stress due to the storm. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and various local police departments are continuing to investigate the storm-related deaths.
Sheriff Gualtieri confirmed that all fatalities occurred in mandatory evacuation zones.
In Tampa, officials reported two storm-related deaths. A 23-year-old from Gibsonton was killed when a sign fell on his minivan during the storm, while another death involved a discovery of a woman in her 70s in her home. Police are looking into her case, noting both water intrusion and potential electrical issues.
As of Saturday, Pasco County reported no fatalities; rescue and recovery efforts there are ongoing.
Overall, the death toll attributed to Hurricane Helene across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia has risen to at least 48, including three firefighters and a mother with her 1-month-old twins, as well as an 89-year-old woman whose house was hit by a falling tree.
At the mobile home community where Mikos lived, neighbors reflected on previous storms. Sharon Murphy, a 17-year resident, noted the dangers of staying behind. Unlike her experience during Hurricane Idalia, during Helene her home sustained significant damage.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available.