Veteran retreat in Ruskin floods following Hurricane Idalia

Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this Colonel. This is saddening.

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
"RUSKIN, Fla. — People who live along the Little Manatee River in Ruskin are cleaning up from Hurricane Idalia.

Among those dealing with flood damage is a quiet retreat for veterans and their families called My Warrior’s Place. ABC Action News anchor Jamison Uhler first visited the retreat back in 2021. But this was the first time he’d ever seen it like this. Several cabins and their contents are soggy and unlivable after the banks of the Little Manatee River gave way during Hurricane Idalia.

“I'm going to easily say $50-75,000 worth of damage. Easily,” explained Kelly Kowall, the founder of My Warrior’s Place.


My Warrior’s Place made all preparations ahead of the storm, including placing sandbags. But Idalia had other plans.

“That's the thing about the ocean; it's indifferent to your presence. If it's coming, it's coming,” said Tom Campbell, Pastor/The director of water activities at My Warrior’s Place.

The retreat was sold out for the Labor Day weekend, but now everything is on hold."

What a shame.