SUNSET BEACH, Fla. — Residents in Sunset Beach are bracing for the potential of flooding ahead of Hurricane Helene.

That’s what Jack Carey did to get his house ready for Helene.

“Batten down the hatches here,” he said. “You can look over here. Water’s starting to come up here already. It’s low tide. And everything in the house is three or four feet off the ground.”

Water rose quickly on Carey’s street, Blind Pass Drive. Some cars were able to navigate the rising waters.

This is an area that usually gets hit hard with flooding during storms. Just a block from the beach where surfers took advantage of the extra large waves, his street provided a preview of things to come.

But this veteran of Florida storms is staying positive.

“As long as we have power, and that’s iffy, we’re good,” he said.