On Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene churned through the Gulf, bringing significant storm surge, damaging winds and historic flooding to our region—despite being 100 miles offshore. 

Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Perry, Florida, pummeled Sarasota and Manatee counties with sustained winds of 44 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 64 miles per hour recorded at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. But it was the hurricane's storm surge, recorded at 5-7 feet up and down the coast, that was catastrophic. The hurricane, which went on to devastate parts of Georgia and North Carolina, was directly responsible for more than 250 deaths. 

In Sarasota County, more than 410 people and their pets sought shelter in county evacuation centers, and residential and commercial property damage estimates exceeded $1.1 billion. 

In Manatee County, waves from the storm toppled barrier island homes and broke apart Gulf Drive on Anna Maria Island. Helene also pushed mountains of sand onshore, which packed into pools, homes, cars and businesses, and first responders rescued 300 people throughout the county during the storm. In both Sarasota and Manatee, more than 180,000 residences lost power.

Throughout both counties—and especially on the barrier islands—rebuilding continues today, though many homeowners have chosen to sell and business owners have closed up shops indefinitely. St. Armands Circle, for example, suffered some of its heaviest losses in memory, with floodwaters rising to about four feet throughout much of the district. Businesses were left swamped, their equipment and merchandise destroyed, and insurance provided little relief since most properties already sat in a designated flood zone and coverage rarely extends to those costs. Owners had to purchase everything new, from retail inventory to kitchen equipment, while also keeping staff on payroll despite having no revenue. Many couldn’t even access their storefronts for days while water and electricity were cut off. Some shops never reopened, others only returned after months of delays, and even the quickest took about 30 days to come back. The prolonged shutdown left a gap in the following winter season—typically when shops and restaurants rely on steady traffic—adding another layer of financial strain to an already punishing recovery.

But, of course, there are success stories. Tommy Bahama, which sustained major damage during the storm and was the circle business closest to Lido Beach, reopened this week in the former Shore restaurant and retail space. Kilwins, the popular ice cream and chocolate shop, is reopening on the circle this weekend after being closed for a year—once again, circle patrons will be able to breathe in the sugary smell of fresh fudge and waffle cones as they approach the store. Ted Sperling Park, which was severely damaged last year and was used to help manage storm debris from the Lido Key community, reopened in March, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Hermitage Artist Retreat welcomed back patrons in January and June, respectively. Barrier island hotels began to reopen earlier this year, too. And Helene and Hurricane Milton, which slammed into Siesta Key just 10 days later, naturally reopened Midnight Pass—a victory for many that was years in the making. 

Local residents, long known for their philanthropy, stepped up to help each other. One in 22 Sarasotans donated to hurricane relief GoFundMes, and Sarasota is ranked sixth on the national fundraising platform's list of most generous cities. Organizations like our community foundations, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, Legal Aid of Manasota, the Center on Anna Maria Island, United Way Suncoast and many more banded together to provide food, supplies, resources and funding support to affected residents. 

Today, recovery continues. Ten severely damaged City of Sarasota parks are in the permitting phase of recovery, with work expected to begin in 2026, and businesses and homeowners continue to rebuild. This year's hurricane season has been mercifully quiet thus far—something that, local government officials warn, could change quickly, especially since the season's midpoint has only just passed. 

“Being prepared and staying vigilant and well informed throughout the entirety of hurricane season is one of the best things you can do to protect your loved ones and property,” Sarasota County Emergency Services director Rich Collins said in a statement this week. “Don’t wait—take those actions now so you’re ready if another storm approaches our area.”