PORT SALERNO, Fla. (WPEC) – Though his home was destroyed by a tornado that hit just before Hurricane Milton, one Florida man says he’s just happy he and his wife are still alive.
George Bustillo was pinned down last Wednesday when his home collapsed because of an EF2 tornado that tore through the Mariner Sands community in Port Salerno. The storm that hit just ahead of Milton was captured on Bustillo’s car dash camera as he, his wife and their dog took cover inside their house.
“It was one second, explosion. Everything goes into the house, all the windows, everything. All the force of that tornado comes in, and the next second, the whole roof collapses on me and I’m pinned,” he said.
Bustillo says neighbors helped get him out with a jack propping up debris.
“That’s got to be the only place in the whole house that I would have survived,” he said.
Bustillo’s home of more than 10 years is no more. Debris was thrown everywhere; rooms are visible from the street and part of his roof is in the pool out back. Not only did he and his wife lose their home but a lot of their possessions, including his Harley-Davidson, which was damaged beyond repair.
He’s not dwelling on the loss of his home, though; he’s just happy to be alive.
“I have scratches and bruises, and everything hurts. But I’m alive. My wife is alive, and my dog’s alive. I’m a lucky man. All I can do is move forward and have a good attitude,” he said.
Bustillo hopes to rebuild, but for now, his family is renting in the area while they figure out their next moves. He’s sharing his story to help give others impacted by Milton some strength and hope.
“It’s never that bad. As long as you have life and love and friends and family, that’s what really matters,” he said.
Even though his family lost everything, Bustillo plans on counting Oct. 9 – the day he nearly died – as a second birthday.
“From now on, I’m going to celebrate one of my birthdays one year from the tornado. Just very lucky to be alive, and I’m very happy to be alive,” he said.
At least 11 people died when Milton made landfall in Florida. The federal government has so far approved about $620 million in assistance for those recovering from the storm, the Associated Press reports.
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