Hurricane Milton has cast a dark shadow upon many families causing power outages, significant damage and flooding. 

But while it may feel like the Victorian times with the lit candles decorating the house, there are ways we can navigate the impacts of Hurricane Milton.

Related: USF students seek comfort at MSC in Milton’s aftermath – The Oracle

It’s important for us to come together and support those who have been affected by the storm.

But even if you are stuck with no power, here are ways to be a light in a community rife with literal and physical darkness.

Supporting one another

To help, you can house those without power and clean up debris within your neighborhood. 

Even reaching out before a grocery run to see what your friends and neighbors may need is a simple but great way to help out.

For families who have lost power, bringing them a homemade dinner can help turn around their hot and dark days.

Related: USF will reopen in the wake of Hurricane Milton – The Oracle

You can also donate to local food pantries, such as USF’s Feed-A-Bull pantry and Feeding Tampa Bay. Popular food donation items include canned soups and beans, dried fruits, oats and applesauce. 

USF’s Botanical Gardens is also looking for volunteers to help with cleanup this Wednesday. The timeslots to volunteer are 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can sign up to help out here.

Resources

For students without power, go to the Publix on campus and charge any electronic devices at the cafe. 

The Marshall Student Center (MSC) is also open during their normal hours if you’re in need of air conditioning and a place to do assignments. 

If you or anyone you know has had their home damaged, help can be found at Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together or Team Rebicon. 

Luckily, in the age of social media and the internet, people are able to use social media as a way to spread the word about recovery you need help with.

For mental health support after Hurricane Milton, there is a Disaster Distress Helpline you can call or text at 1-800-985-5990.

To help in the rebuilding of our community, you can donate to a GoFundMe and The Florida Disaster Fund. You can also volunteer at All Hands and Hearts and Volunteer Florida.

Blood donation is also important right now and you can support that by donating to OneBlood. 

Passing time without power

WiFi, flickering lights and air conditioning are all things we take for granted once we look to find the house has grown hot and dark.

Many around the Tampa Bay area have been affected by power outages. Here’s how you can look for some entertainment with no electricity.

Board games are a surefire way to keep your family entertained despite the lack of power sourced entertainment.

Some fun games that will help pass the hours without power are Clue, Monopoly and Trouble.

Another great way to pass time is through reading during the daytime. A genre many love is Dystopian, an example of this is “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins. 

You’ll feel way more productive having read 100 pages of a book rather than liking 100 videos on Tik Tok.

Despite our differences on how we may spend our time without power, we can agree the aftermath caused by this hurricane left significant damage. 

It can seem impossible to come back from – understandably so. So this week, come together and be the light amid the darkness brought upon by Hurricane Milton.