Photo courtesy of anonymous USF St. Petersburg evacuee
By Riley Benson
As Hurricane Milton swept through the Tampa Bay area causing immense damage, the University of South Florida evacuated residential students hunkered down at Jennings Middle School for the second night.
At about 9:30 p.m., the middle school lost power and about an hour and 15 minutes later, the lights were restored. However, all the outlets in the building were inoperative.
Many used power banks to charge their phones and laptops.
When morning came, they were still without any power other than the lights and living off non-perishable foods, like cereal, Rice Krispies Treats, and Uncrustable sandwiches.
It wasn’t until 3 p.m. yesterday, Oct. 11, that they received hope.
“Pack your bags, we’re going home. We just received word that we are more than likely going back to campus. They gave us a personal pizza, which we are calling ‘Freedom Pizza,’” said Cameron Doom, a Tampa campus evacuee.
It wasn’t until after waiting for over an hour that, after boarding the bus, they heard that only certain students could move back into their dorms.
Those who live in Juniper, Poplar and Beta Tampa residence halls would be staying at the campus’ Recreation Center until the end of the day on Oct. 11 (which was not told to them at the time). All other on-campus residential students would be moving back into their dorms.
Students from the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses were also being held in the recreation center as well.
“Yesterday I barely slept because it was too cold. I had to cover my body with a blanket and sleeping bag just to get warm,” said Duy Do, senior graphic design major from the St. Petersburg campus, to Mahika Kukday, The Crow’s Nest’s Arts and Life Editor.
Do also told Kukday, that while they have power, he has to take cold showers and no WiFi.
On Oct. 11 at around 6:30 p.m., Do received word from staff that all of the unhoused students would be staying in spare dorms, each getting there own room, from there on out, until they were able to move back into their own dorms.
The Hub dining hall is also open, but only for the students who evacuated and are now on campus.
While the experience of riding out the storm at Jennings Middle School is over for many, Doom plans to continue to work for compensation for the experience “USF put its students through.”
“As soon as I’m out of here, I will begin organizing a group that will lobby for immediate action to fight for our refund, it’s only just,” Doom said. “We must also continue to fight for a refund on our student accounts for the days we were evicted from our homes without a choice. This applies to everyone: those who are currently at the school shelter and those who have evacuated on their own dime.”
Despite certain students being allowed back in their dorms, an email communication by the university sent at 4:50 p.m. today, said that all USF campuses will remain closed until at least Monday, Oct. 14, and classes will be held asynchronously on Monday.
USF urged student not to return to campus until it has sent further notice that it is safe.
