LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio — The Hoffman family has dealt with more than their fair share of natural disasters in 2024.
For the last ten years, the Hoffmans have split their time between Indian Lake in Logan County and St. Petersburg, Florida.
In March, they were in Florida when their home in Russells Point was at the center of destruction left by a devastating EF3 tornado. Three people were killed and many homes were destroyed.
“I keep a lot of our family albums, photo albums here in Ohio because I always thought, 'Oh, this is much safer than in Florida.' So when we first heard the tornado hit here in March it was scary because we knew it came right through here through Lakeview and Russells Point,” said Cynthia Hoffman.
The Hoffmans sustained tens of thousands of dollars in damages and finally finished up repairs after seven months, when two hurricanes were forecasted to hit their home in Florida. First Helene, then Milton.
“It is very stressful, just the waiting,” Hoffman said.
Their home is in evacuation zone A, near Tropicana Field, where the roof was ripped off by Milton’s strong winds.
The Hoffmans plan to head down to Florida soon to check out the damage left by Milton, but so far they are hearing good news from their neighbors that the house may have only suffered minor damage.
“I was telling our friends I can’t imagine the Lord would give me a tornado and a hurricane in the same year but we did within seven months,” Hoffman said. “Being a person of faith I am praying for the people, the people who lost loved ones, property yes it is horribly devastating, but you can always replace.”