Residents of the barrier island north of St. Petersburg, Florida, faced a devastating storm surge from Hurricane Helene, resulting in tragic consequences. Despite evacuation warnings, some residents chose to stay, leading to 12 fatalities as the storm hit the Tampa Bay area with unprecedented force.
The storm surge, reaching up to 8 feet high, swept through homes and businesses on the narrow string of barrier islands in Pinellas County. The damage was extensive, with properties destroyed or heavily damaged within minutes of the surge hitting.
