Residents escorted off barrier islands, deputies will patrol for looters
By Marilyn Parker,
22 days ago
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — Law enforcement escorted people out of the barrier islands due to dangerous conditions following Hurricane Helene.
Pinellas County officials said barrier islands will remain closed.
Significant storm surge pushed several feet of water into homes, causing widespread devastation and a massive cleanup effort ahead.
People waited for hours at the Publix and McDonalds near Duhme Road, right off the Tom Stuart Causeway. Buses made one way trips off the island starting at 6 p.m. Christine Behring described what her neighborhood looked like as she left.
“Oh my goodness, never have I seen anything like that,” Behring said. “I’ve been here for many, many years and it’s sad. I’m happy to be off the barrier island. My home is there. It’s destroyed but I just needed to get off of there.”
Gulf Boulevard was covered by sand. Crews worked to pile up the sand and clear the road. Officials said 100 pipes were damaged. They said there are broken private water lines in homes and businesses. Debris is everywhere.
“The place looks like a hurricane hit it. I mean it is, everything’s torn up, everything broken,” said James Tucker, who was visiting the beaches from Iowa.
The sheriff’s office wants people off the island. Deputies will patrol the barrier islands from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to watch for looting.
Residents said they wished they had more of a notice that officials would escort people off the island with buses.
Many of them left their devastated homes not sure of when they can return. Others don’t know what they’ll come home to.
“This time we didn’t think it was going to be as bad as the other reports we’ve got,” Kejo Archer said. “We were thinking that we’re in a really safe spot as far as where our house is located but I don’t know if we’re going to be so lucky this time.”
Officials will reevaluate Saturday to determine when residents can return home.
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