TAMPA, FLORIDA, US – Although Ardent Mills’ Port Redwing flour mill did not sustain damage from the strongest hurricane to hit the Tampa area in over 100 years, the facility’s operations have been slowed due to power outages and flooding.

Hurricane Milton made landfall Oct. 9 at Siesta Key, about 60 miles south of Tampa, as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour. It inundated a large portion of Florida with tornadoes, up to 18 inches of rain, and hurricane and tropical storm-force winds.

The Tampa area, as of Oct. 11, was still dealing with flooding and widespread power outages, which have impacted the Port Redwing mill’s ability to operate, said Troy Anderson, vice president of operations for Ardent Mills.

“We have a generator that is powering electricity to some areas of the plant,” Anderson said. “Specific areas of our facility are up and running at reduced capacity. We are working closely with our customers on order needs/timing, as many of them are experiencing similar challenges such as power outages, scarce fuel, and traffic congestion as residents return to their homes.”

Most importantly, Anderson said all the mill’s employees and families made it through the storm uninjured.

“Their hard work, dedication and focus on our values and safety and serving continue to demonstrate our strong people and customer-focused culture,” he said.

Ardent Mills shut down operations at the mill on Oct. 8, a day before the hurricane made landfall, to allow employees to evacuate and/or prepare their homes for the storm’s arrival. It was the second hurricane to threaten the region in two weeks. Hurricane Helene in late September did not produce the heavy rain and high winds that Milton did, but its storm surge was greater, causing massive flooding of Tampa homes and businesses located near the water..

Meteorologists noted that had Milton, which at one point was a Category 5 storm, made landfall farther to the north, the surge from the Gulf of Mexico would have caused unprecedented flooding in the bay area.

Ardent Mills opened its Port Redwing mill, which has daily production capacity of 17,500 cwts, in March 2022 at a cost of over $100 million. 

The mill was constructed 12 feet above sea level on the first floor, 2 feet higher than the 10-foot guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the company said. Additionally, all wheat stored on the property is situated above ground and hurricane-rated doors were installed on the exterior of the plant.

The mill also avoided damage from Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

“We designed and constructed the facility to withstand and minimize negative impacts of potential weather events, including hurricanes,” Anderson said. “The facility was constructed in accordance to, and in some areas exceeds, guidance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”