Bradenton Beach on a peaceful day. Bradenton Beach was one area with a lot of damage from Hurricane Helene, followed by Milton.
Our travel blog usually focuses on the great places to visit in Florida. Yet with two back-to-back hurricanes in October 2024–Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton–we wanted to share some of the storm damage photos we took locally.
We’ll let each picture below tell its own story. We hope you’ll consider helping those in need, such as those who may have had flooding, lost their home or have been without power for several days. (The worst we experienced was a power outage for more than a day and a second shorter outage a day later….no home damage.) Below are a few ideas on how you can help those in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Englewood, Manasota Key, St. Pete, and other areas. Then you’ll see our photos.
Of course, you also can consider supporting other hard-hit areas, such as Florida’s Big Bend where Helene hit directly and Western North Carolina, which had massive flooding.
How to Help After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton
–Donate to The Humane Society, which is helping animals displaced by the storms. Or, check with local animal shelters about their needs.
–Consider fostering animals that need a temporary home because of hurricane damage.
–Volunteer if you can. The Center of Anna Maria Island did an excellent job coordinating resources and volunteers right after Helene. You can check out their website or social media to find out when their efforts will be able to resume. Volunteer Florida also can connect you to volunteer opportunities.
A Few Quick Facts About Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton
—Hurricane Helene hit Perry, Florida, in Florida’s Big Bend (Northwest Florida) as a Category 4 hurricane. However, it also caused major storm surge/flooding in other parts of Florida, including our local Anna Maria Island. It also led to catastrophic flooding in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $200 billion in damages and killed more than 230 people.
—Hurricane Milton hit Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane. As of Oct. 13, there are 23 reported deaths. Officials continue to review the full extent of the storms damage. The hurricane was not as severe as originally predicted, but it still caused a lot of destruction along Florida’s Gulf Coast. There also were tornadoes and other reports of damage across the state.
Find more hurricane-related videos and other Florida pics and videos on our Instagram page, @Florida_Culture.
A pier at Bradenton Beach, Florida, on a normal, sunny day.A pier at Bradenton Beach the day that Helene hit (Sept. 26), with water already reaching the lifeguard stand. The area storm surge would go on to reach 6 feet, destroying many homes and businesses. A colorful painted rock spotted at Bradenton Beach the morning before Helene caused storm surge that afternoon/evening. The iconic Rod & Reel Pier of Anna Maria Island, as seen in August 2024. It had been part of the community since 1947.The same pier with its dock destroyed by Helene. We took this image/video, and the Weather Channel website and app featured it. Unfortunately, Hurricane Milton washed away the whole restaurant, so it’s now gone. A second local pier, Anna Maria’s City Pier , has a building that remains intact although its dock is gone.Damage to Anna Maria Island’s Ginny & Jane E’s Cafe and Gift Store from Helene.Endless debris as seen on Anna Maria Island after Helene. The debris piled up due to flooding from storm surge and residents having to get rid of affected items, including furniture and drywall.More debris seen on Anna Maria Island after Helene.Helene brought tons of sand ashore to Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island. Here’s what that looked like a little over a week later. Driving was possible but still felt confined by all the surrounding sand. The sand was particularly bad on roads closest to the beach.Sandbags prepared on Anna Maria Island to help residents get ready for the double whammy of Milton, which arrived on Oct. 9, within two weeks after Helene. The sandbags were placed in front of home entryways, like garages and front doors, to help fight against water entry.A downed tree in Bradenton after Hurricane Milton hit as a category 3 hurricane. Milton was a direct hit to Siesta Key in Sarasota County, about 30 minutes from this location. Winds reached 102 miles per hour in Bradenton. In St. Petersburg, Florida, Milton tore the roof off of Tropicana Stadium.Milton caused lots of tree and fence damage around Bradenton.A knocked-down stop sign/street sign in Bradenton after Milton.After Milton, grocery stores remained sparse for goods like toilet paper (seen completely gone in this aisle of a Bradenton Walmart). Getting gas also remained a struggle, with long lines and frayed nerves for those who were waiting.A boat and small boathouse brought ashore in front of Bayfront Park in Sarasota after Milton. The popular park had already been closed due to damage from Helene.A large boat collides with Bayfront Park in Sarasota after Milton.Beautiful Anna Maria Island as it usually appears.
