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.

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

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,

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Manatee County and Sarasota County are shutting off water due to Hurricane Helene. Manatee County Utilities announced they will shut off water to the island cities by 6 a.m. on Thursday. Anticipated winds and storm surge could threaten the the integrity of the infrastructure.

Zone A includes low lying areas, barrier islands, and mobile or manufactured homes. Over on Anna Maria Island, residents and tourists were making big decisions to leave or stay on Wednesday, ahead of Helene.