Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch Director Kristen Mazzarella told the Herald-Tribune that wildlife on the island also suffered losses. She said that a record-setting number of sea turtle nests laid on AMI this year has been devastated, first by Hurricane Debby and finished off by Helene.

A curfew has been implemented for all three cities on Anna Maria Island after Hurricane Helene left a severe storm surge and flooding throughout the Tampa Bay area. According to the City of Holmes Beach,

Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast, making landfall late Thursday as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing with 140 mph winds, torrential rain and a record storm surge before moving inland across Georgia and the Carolinas. Miami avoided a massive upset thanks to a controversial overturned call on the final play of the game.

There are still flooded streets,” a Manatee County commissioner said. “Sand is blocking streets. Sand is in buildings. Sand is in homes.”

According to Holmes Beach Police, no one will be allowed on the island until the first in teams can clear the roads and determine that it is safe.