Cannibal Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan has revealed that 90 percent of his and his family’s belongings in St. Petersburg, Florida, were destroyed or severely damaged following Hurricanes Helene and Milton that hit the area in September and October 2024. These natural disasters caused massive destruction, leaving many families, including Rutan’s, in a desperate situation.
A double whammy for the region
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 hurricane that hit Florida on September 26, is one of the most devastating to hit the United States in half a century. Two weeks later, Category 3 Hurricane Milton slammed into the Sarasota area, bringing high winds and torrential rain across Tampa Bay.
Erik Rutan, who was on a European tour with Cannibal Corpse, had to leave the group on September 28 to join his wife in Florida after discovering the extent of the damage. On his social networks, he expressed his gratitude for the support received, while sharing the immense pain of losing almost all his possessions.
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“90% of everything we own has been destroyed”
In a statement released on October 18, Rutan wrote: “We are so grateful for all the love and support that has been given to us. The positive words, messages, texts and phone calls have meant a lot to us. We feel blessed to know that so many people care about us.”
He then described the extent of the damage: “90% of everything we own, including our personal and family belongings, photos, irreplaceable items as well as musical and recording equipment, has been severely damaged or completely destroyed.” Rutan called this period one of the most difficult of his life: “This has been one of the most difficult times of our lives. We have worked so hard our whole lives to get what we have, only to have it all taken away from us in an instant.”
A long road to recovery
Despite this immense loss, Erik Rutan remains determined to overcome this ordeal: “I don’t know how we’re going to get through all of this, but anyone who knows us knows that we’re going to fight to get back to some normality, one day, through sheer will and determination.” He also asked fans to send positive thoughts to his family during these difficult times: “As we try to pick up the pieces of our lives, please send all the positive energy you can. I will provide further news when time permits. Eternal gratitude.”
Erik Rutan, in addition to being a permanent member of Cannibal Corpse since 2021, is also a renowned producer and runs the Mana Recording studio in St. Petersburg. He is known for his time with Morbid Angel and for being the singer and guitarist of the band Hate Eternal.
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