TAMPA, Fla. — Jesuit High School in Tampa has been helping its families and staff recover from the hurricanes.

The private school is helping pay the tuition for students who were impacted by hurricanes Helene or Milton.

Jesuit also provided financial support for some staff. The principal said more than 100 of their families are storm victims, including the De La Torre family.

What You Need To Know

  •  Jesuit High School of Tampa is helping pay tuition for some students impacted by hurricanes Helene or Milton.

  •  The private school also provided financial assistance for staff. Some of them were victims as well.

  •  More than 100 families from the school were impacted by the hurricanes.

  • Jesuit schools from across the country have reached out and raised money to assist the school's families as they rebuild.

“It was literally like somebody had put a firehose in the crack of the door and had turned it on,” said father Luis De La Torre II. “That’s how fast the water was coming in the house.”

During Hurricane Helene, Luis De La Torre II sat in a chair at the door of his home and watched the salt water rush inside from Tampa Bay. Recently having a stroke, he said there was little he could do.

“It was surreal,” he said. “I couldn’t fathom water was coming in our home.”

The days after that storm were just as hard for his teenage son, Luis De La Torre III.

“The first few nights, I remember praying to God just kind of talking to him, asking for help, asking for the damage not to be that bad,” young Luis said.

Luis de la Torre III is a sophomore at Jesuit High School. When his dad reached out to the School’s Dad’s Club, he said members came over to help clean up the mess inside their home.

“It was glorious,” the dad said. “It was equivalent of sending up the bat signal.”

As families rebuild, the school’s principal said they also wanted to help financially.

“The last thing a parent needs to worry about when they’re ripping floors is the next tuition payment,” said Jesuit’s principal and interim President Mike Scicchitano.

Other Jesuit schools from across the country wanted to help as well. Students in New York City held a bake sale. Another Jesuit student in Houston also reached out to raise money for the families.

“It’s very moving, the generosity,” the principal said.

Luis de la Torre III said he also appreciates the emotional help and flexibility he’s received from his teachers and counselors since returning to school.

“It’s been helping a lot,” the Jesuit sophomore said. ”Because not having my usual setup to do my homework and stuff, it’s been hard to think in a different environment, not being used to where I usually do my homework, it’s been different for me. Kind of messed up my routine. Having more time, more help definitely helps out with my homework and assignments.”

For now, Luis de la Torre III said the school has really become his home since the storm. The family said they’re truly grateful for all the support as they start over with a new normal.