After hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast, Helene tore through the Southeast, unleashing historic rain and flooding in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas and leaving dozens of people dead and millions without power. Helene’s trail of destruction and record-breaking floods could rank among the costliest storms in U.S. history.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. (WWSB) - Thousands on Anna Maria Island are dealing with extreme damage of their property, personal items, vehicles, and boats, after Hurricane Helene’s wrath ripped through the coast.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Sen. Rick Scott toured Anna Maria Island to evaluate the damage left behind from Hurricane Helene. Scott met with residents and other crews who were beginning their cleanup efforts. A look at the damage: Anna Maria Island residents lost ‘everything’ to Hurricane Helene

Anna Maria Island took the brunt of the damage in Manatee County, and NewsNation affiliate WFLA got a look at the damage on Holmes Beach with a ride along with Holmes Beach Chief of Police. Driving through Holmes Beach,

DeSantis said in a Saturday afternoon press conference in Bradenton Beach. “This is just too nice an area not to.”

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.