TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — City and county assessment teams will be back out in Treasure Island on Tuesday to assess the damage last weekend’s overnight storm did to Sunset Beach and homes in the surrounding neighborhood.
A spokesperson for the city of Treasure Island says more than 60 residents reported floodwater getting into their homes.
Janet Warden is a retired schoolteacher who bought her bungalow in Sunset Beach five years ago. She says despite sandbagging her doors, she’s had water make it inside her home four different times during her time in the home. The most recent before last weekend’s storm was Hurricane Idalia.
“This is my home. It’s an old little place but I love it and until that water comes all the way to get me, I’m not leaving,” Warden said with a smile.
After Pinellas County pumped over $26 million into restoring the dunes at Sunset Beach a couple of months ago, @TresIslandFL officials say about 50% of them were taken out during last weekends wind swept storm @BN9 pic.twitter.com/gZYnrIsc1H
— Angie Angers (@angie_angers) December 19, 2023
A few doors down, Fidel Sierra had water come in through his car doors. He says at one point, it was up to his knees.
He says this storm brought more water onto his property than Hurricane Idalia.
“We’ve got some great neighbors here where everybody tries to help each other out, that’s the most important thing,” Sierra said.
The city estimates that 50% of the dunes that were recently restored after Hurricane Idalia were washed away during this storm. That restoration project cost Pinellas County Public Works more than $26 million.
Those who live in Pinellas County and had flooding issues are asked to report them to the county.