135 Rescued From Flooded Tampa Assisted Living Facility

Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers

First responders in Tampa have rescued at least 135 people from the Great American Assisted Living Facility, where residents were found in water up to their waists. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that individuals in wheelchairs and walkers were being loaded onto a Hillsborough County school bus as deputies and fire officials worked to ensure their safety.

One resident mentioned that the water had reached his knees, highlighting the challenging conditions faced by those inside the facility. Authorities were alerted to the situation after receiving a distress call about residents being trapped inside the facility around 7:05 a.m.