Tampa Soul Food Restaurant Reopens After Hurricane

- The restaurant, Blue Flame Soul Food, owned by Tamika Vaught, endured a complete kitchen rebuild after taking on approximately three feet of water and suffering a collapsed roof during Hurricane Milton. - The damage occurred despite the restaurant's location being miles inland, primarily due to flooding on Fowler Avenue caused by power outages and issues with pumps and generators. - Hurricane Milton's impact was widespread, affecting 34 Florida counties that are home to nearly 60% of the state's small and medium-sized businesses, which collectively employ around 4 million people. - By November 2024, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties accounted for over half of the $350 million in reported business damages statewide from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, impacting nearly 2,000 businesses. - Recovery for businesses like Blue Flame was supported by various financial aid programs, including Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans, and a $5 million grant program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and American Express offering $5,000 to eligible small businesses. - About two-thirds of the small businesses in the path of Hurricane Milton employ fewer than 20 people, making them particularly vulnerable to the economic disruption caused by the storm. - Hillsborough County is slated to receive more than $709 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds to support long-term rebuilding and economic recovery efforts. - The broader economic impact of the hurricane was projected to reduce Florida's gross state product growth by 3 to 4 percentage points in the fourth quarter of that year.