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Hurricane Fatigue

Last Thursday evening, residents from across our coastal communities came together for a crucial conversation about healing. LIFT (the Life Intervention Focus Team) of Treasure Island held a community meeting with the National Association of Mental Illness, Pinellas County (NAMI-Pinellas), covering a topic that affects all of us in some way — Hurricane Fatigue: Coping with the emotional aftermath of natural disasters.

What We Learned About Hurricane Fatigue

The conference opened with a clear definition: Hurricane Fatigue is the emotional exhaustion that follows repeated natural disasters, creating lasting distress and anxiety in our communities. When conference attendees were polled about their current feelings, the results painted a telling picture of our collective state:

These numbers reflect what many of us already knew—we're not just rebuilding our homes and businesses; we're rebuilding our emotional well-being.

Recognizing the Signs

Hurricane fatigue manifests in multiple ways that affect our daily lives:

For our youth, these effects are particularly concerning. Many children and teenagers are experiencing increased anxiety, withdrawal from friends and activities, and behavioral changes that worry parents and teachers alike.

Our older adult residents face unique vulnerabilities, including the compounding effects of chronic health conditions and potentially limited access to support systems during recovery.

When Hurricane Fatigue Becomes PTSD

The conference emphasized an important distinction: while hurricane fatigue affects many of us, some residents may be experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Repeated exposure to destruction, significant losses, and inadequate support can lead to more severe symptoms, including flashbacks, emotional numbness, and persistent anxiety.

Those with prior trauma or limited resources are particularly at risk, and it's crucial to recognize when professional help may be needed.

The Power of Community Support

One of the most hopeful messages from the conference was the emphasis on community resilience. Our shared experiences, while painful, can become sources of strength when we support one another.

Jessica Kushner and the NAMI-Pinellas team highlighted how sharing our stories of resilience can strengthen our communities and reduce the isolation that often accompanies recovery.

How We Can Help Each Other

As residents of these beautiful coastal communities, we have the power to support our neighbors' healing:

LIFT is launching a Neighbor4Neighbor program dedicated to supporting our community members in need, whether through a friendly hello to let someone know they’re not alone or by providing assistance to those who require it. Read about the incredible work — and successes — of LIFT here.

Moving Forward Together

As we navigate another hurricane season, it's important to remember that healing isn't linear, and it's not something we have to do alone. The psychological toll of repeated storms is real, but so is our capacity for resilience when we face it together.

NAMI: If you or someone you know needs support, don't hesitate to reach out to Jessica Kushner at NAMI-Pinellas: [email protected] or 727-828-0077 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM). In Treasure Island, please reach out to LIFT

LIFT: If you have questions or comments about the Life Intervention Team or would like to volunteer, please reach out using the contact form. If you know someone who requires assistance, check out the Treasure Island resource page here. or email: [email protected]

Our communities have weathered literal storms, and now we're learning to weather the emotional ones as well. By acknowledging hurricane fatigue, supporting one another, and accessing professional help when needed, we're not just rebuilding our neighborhoods—we're creating stronger, more resilient communities for the future.

Dive into Spirituality Beach, Citizen Beach’s new column shining a light on the vibrant spiritual life of St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach! Each edition will explore inspiring stories, celebrating the faith and resilience of our coastal communities.

In the rhythm of our daily lives, it’s easy to focus on our own paths—our goals, our struggles, our dreams. Yet, something deep within us calls for connection, a reminder that we are not meant to walk alone. Community, in its truest form, is a sacred space where we find meaning, strength, and purpose through our shared humanity. It’s where we learn to set aside our own desires, not out of loss, but out of a quiet recognition that we are all woven into the same tapestry.

At the heart of community lies a simple, yet profound truth: we thrive when we lift each other up. When we act with humility, putting aside pride or the urge to compete, we create room for understanding. In places like our small coastal cities, where debates over change—whether new buildings or shifting landscapes—can stir tension, this humility becomes a bridge. It invites us to listen to voices different from our own, to see the needs of a neighbor as equal to our own. A shopkeeper worried about new developments, a family cherishing the view of the sunset over the water, a worker seeking a better livelihood. All their hopes are threads in the same fabric. When we honor these threads, we weave a stronger whole.

Community asks us to look beyond ourselves, to consider the greater good over fleeting personal gain. It’s not about erasing our individuality, but about recognizing that our well-being is tied to the well-being of others. In our towns, where growth can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between progress and preservation, this means seeking solutions that serve everyone—a city park that’s more than overflow parking, a downtown where businesses flourish and friends meet unexpectedly, a shoreline that remains a shared treasure. This spirit of mutual care transforms conflict into collaboration, reminding us that what benefits one can benefit all.

There’s a deeper energy at work in community, a force that binds us when we gather with open hearts. Whether it’s sharing a meal, rebuilding after a storm, or standing together to shape our city’s small-town future, these moments remind us of our shared essence. They call us to act not out of rivalry or self-interest, but out of a commitment to something larger. This is where we find resilience, where we discover that our differences, when met with respect, become our strength.

To live in community is to embrace a spiritual practice of connection. It asks us to show up, to listen, to give, and to receive. It’s a commitment to build not just for today, but for those who will walk these streets tomorrow. In this shared journey, we find not only purpose but a sense of belonging that echoes something timeless—a call to be part of something greater than ourselves.

Why “Five Plus One” Works: Marriott’s Model Shows the Way for Treasure Island

As of August 1, 2025, Madeira Beach is set for positive change with the Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel at John’s Pass Village. This 87-key condo-hotel, led by Bill Karns and Marcus Winters, will rise five stories above a single garage level—precisely matching the structure Treasure Island voters overwhelmingly supported in our own height limit referendum. Marriott, a global hospitality leader, is staking a substantial investment on this exact formula, signaling that five plus one is not only feasible but profitable.

This confidence establishes a real-world precedent. Marriott’s model—five floors above a dedicated parking base—reflects the community vision enshrined in Treasure Island’s zoning laws. Treasure Island’s referendum, supported by 72% of voters, limited major new construction to five stories atop a garage, with the express aim of protecting the unique small-town atmosphere and ensuring livability for residents. Now, as a minority calls to relax or abolish these limits, it’s critical to recognize that even major international developers with robust resources and research see five plus one as a winning strategy.

The Madeira Beach project includes condominium units for purchase or nightly rental, 268 parking spaces, 11,600 square feet of street-level shops, and a rooftop deck—all within the established height constraints. Marriott’s choice to invest here, without asking for additional height, underscores that success and sustainability are not at odds with our coastal communities’ values.

This reality isn’t limited to Marriott or to Madeira Beach. Right here in Treasure Island, the iconic Thunderbird Beach Resort is being rebuilt after suffering hurricane damage—again, within the established zoning limits. The new Thunderbird will consist of four guest floors above a surface parking and amenities level, yielding a “five plus one” profile that fits our guidelines. The vision: 106 rooms in a U-shaped building, preserving both the hotel’s nostalgic charm—including its famous neon signage—and our beloved low-rise coastal identity. The Thunderbird project clearly demonstrates that even after devastation, rebirth under Treasure Island’s commonsense height cap is not just possible but economically sound.

Projects like The Fusion and the Treasure Island Ocean Club have also thrived under the same zoning, attracting both discerning residents and tourism revenue while maintaining character and scale. These examples affirm that profitable and sustainable development flourishes within our “five plus one” framework.

Rather than seeking ever-taller buildings, our community stands to benefit most by optimizing within the established model—one that balances growth, prosperity, and preservation. Marriott’s investment, the Thunderbird’s revival, and our referendum victory all converge on a central message: the “five plus one” rule is not a barrier but a blueprint—for long-term vitality, community identity, and economic success.

Keep Treasure Island’s “five plus one” legacy going strong. As Marriott, Thunderbird, and others have shown, there’s no need to sacrifice what makes the city unique. Growth and preservation go hand-in-hand—exactly what the city’s residents voted for, and exactly as the world’s most experienced developers are proving on the ground.

Visit the Seniorly Resource Center to find local jobs, visit the Gulf Beaches Public Library, check the Pinellas County Age-Friendly Services and Resources, or stop by the Gulfport Senior Center. Let’s keep our silver workforce thriving in 2025!