Agility Recovery’s Rapid Response and Resilience: A Look at Our Efforts During Hurricanes Milton and Helene

At Agility Recovery, our mission is to ensure businesses can quickly recover from disruptions and continue serving their communities, no matter what challenges come their way. During the recent Hurricanes Milton and Helene, our teams mobilized rapidly, demonstrating our commitment to providing essential support and resources to impacted areas. Here’s a closer look at the hurricanes’ impact and how our team worked around the clock to help businesses recover from these Category 3 storms. 

Understanding the Impacts of Hurricanes Milton and Helene: Power Outages, Property Damage, and Economic Cost 

Power Outages 

Hurricanes Milton and Helene caused widespread power outages across Florida and neighboring states. As the storms made landfall, intense winds, torrential rains, and flooding severely disrupted electrical infrastructure: 

• Hurricane Milton: Approximately 3.5 million homes and businesses in Florida lost power due to Hurricane Milton, impacting about 30% of the state’s electric customers. Utilities and repair crews worked around the clock, but the widespread damage and road obstructions extended the recovery process for many residents. 

• Hurricane Helene: Power outages spanned multiple states as Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast. The high winds and intense rain flooded substations and downed power lines, creating hazards that slowed the restoration process. While exact numbers vary, the storm’s disruption to the energy grid was among the most severe in recent years. 

Property Damage 

The physical damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure was extensive. Each hurricane left behind unique patterns of destruction: 

• Milton’s Destruction: Beachfront properties, historical structures, and commercial buildings bore the brunt of Hurricane Milton’s wrath. High winds and heavy rain inflicted massive structural damage, particularly in coastal regions like St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton. Flooding was extensive, with storm surges inundating low-lying areas and affecting both residential and business properties. 

• Helene’s Widespread Impact: Hurricane Helene’s path spanned multiple states, leaving communities from Florida to the Carolinas grappling with extensive flood damage. In North Carolina alone, catastrophic flooding from Helene led to an estimated $53 billion in damages. Homes and businesses near rivers and coastal areas were particularly vulnerable, and the severity of floodwaters resulted in widespread property losses. 

Economic Cost 

The financial impact of Hurricanes Milton and Helene highlights the economic strain such disasters can place on communities, businesses, and government resources: 

• Milton’s Estimated Costs: Preliminary damage assessments for Hurricane Milton place the total cost between $160 billion and $180 billion. This includes damage to infrastructure, commercial properties, and residential homes. The recovery costs are high, with businesses facing losses from prolonged power outages, flood damage, and repairs. 

• Helene’s Staggering Toll: AccuWeather estimated the total financial loss from Hurricane Helene to be between $225 billion and $250 billion, making it one of the most damaging storms in U.S. history. CoreLogic, a property analytics firm, estimated flood and wind losses at $30.5 billion to $47.5 billion, including insured and uninsured losses across 16 states. This level of economic damage reflects both the breadth of the storm’s path and the severity of the flooding and wind damage inflicted on affected regions. 

Agility in Action: Making Recovery Happen 

Our teams worked 24/7 across all impacted states to support businesses during these storms. Here’s a snapshot of our efforts: 

• 125 Total Recoveries: Agility Recovery facilitated 125 recoveries during the hurricane responses, leveraging different resources to ensure each client received the support needed to maintain resilience against these devastating storms. 

• New Member Support: In addition to the recoveries we facilitated for existing Agility members, we are proud to have been able to extend our support to nearly a dozen new members who reached out to Agility for help in their time of need.  

Key Assets Deployed to Support Recovery 

To meet the unique needs of each Agility member, we deployed a wide range of recovery assets: 

• 84 Generators: Our generator assets provided critical backup power to businesses facing prolonged outages, allowing them to maintain operations and service their customers. 

• 21 Fuel Pods: Fuel resources ensured consistent power supply and enabled our mobile assets to keep running during long recovery periods. 

• 6 Mobile Units: Our mobile units provided flexible workspace solutions, enabling companies to maintain productivity and continuity, even when physical locations were impacted. 

• 14 Technology Recoveries: We deployed hundreds of technology assets from our inventory, including satellite connectivity equipment, laptops, and ReadyTechGo units, giving businesses the tools needed to stay connected and continue essential functions. 

• Other Critical Resources: Our commitment to members often requires customized recovery solutions based on an organization’s unique services and needs. As such, we deployed thousands of gallons of food and hundreds of individual meals, ensuring those members could maintain safety and care for their workforce and the communities they serve. 

Mobile Recoveries Across Impacted States 

Agility’s recovery teams coordinated seven mobile deployments across key areas hit by the hurricanes, including Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, as well as non-hurricane recovery events in states outside the Southeast. These deployments included ADA-compliant mobile workspaces equipped with custom interior layouts, restrooms, furniture, satellite connectivity, backup power, and more.  

Extended Recoveries 

Our work doesn’t end once a storm has passed. Our teams are committed to seeing each recovery through until full stability is achieved, which means providing unwavering support for nearly 100 member locations with recovery needs that stretched days and weeks beyond the storms’ initial impact.  

A Commitment to Customer Satisfaction: Zero Escalations 

At Agility Recovery, we pride ourselves on delivering excellent service that meets or exceeds member expectations. Our response during Hurricanes Milton and Helene achieved zero escalations, meaning every member received timely support, minimizing the impact of the storms on their operations. 

Building Resilience with Agility Recovery 

As extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for reliable, effective business continuity support has never been greater. Agility Recovery’s response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene underscores our dedication to helping organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions. Our members benefit from a proactive approach to business continuity, equipped with the assets, expertise, and resources needed to keep their operations running smoothly. 

If you’re interested in building resilience for your organization, connect with us today to learn more about how Agility Recovery can support your continuity planning so you’re ready for whatever comes next.