DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Volusia County Emergency leaders are advising people living along the coast to take precautions with a potential storm system moving towards Central Florida this week.

For areas hit hard during Hurricane Ian, like Daytona Beach Shores, many businesses are still cleaning up what was left behind.

“We were starting to see the fruits of our labor, then all of a sudden it’s like a phone call and life changes,” said James Brogno.

Brogno and his partners worked for over two and a half years to create Carmine’s Beachside Pizzeria. 

The restaurant was a dream come true when it opened earlier in the year in May.

The business was doing great, but all of that came to a halt when Ian forced them to close their doors indefinitely.

“To have 36 hours of 90mph wind destroy it, it’s crushing,” Brogno explained.

Windows are broken, and the roof has been damaged throughout the plaza where Carmine’s is located.

Brogno finally got clearance to go inside and assess the damage left behind three weeks ago.

As an investor in the business, he’s now just trying to salvage whatever he can.

“That looks much better,” Brogno says while scrubbing away rust from pizza ovens that have been out of commission since the storm.

On top of the stress of cleaning up the restaurant, there’s now a storm system that he hopes won’t cause any more trouble.

“We’re a little nervous with this one being that it’s on this side,” Brogno explained. “I think the only blessing is that it’s not having a lot of time to generate and grow. But this whole coast doesn’t need any more impacts like it did,” he continued.

County officials are monitoring the potential for high winds, significant rainfall, crashing waves, and extremely high tides for several days this week.

With damage still present along the coast, they’re asking residents and visitors to stay off the beach.

As for Brogno, he’s been working nonstop to clean and wrap all kitchen products to keep them safe.

While the business waits to see what happens with this potential storm, he says he’s leaning on his faith and hoping all will be well.

“He never gives us more than we can handle,” Brogno sighed.