CORTEZ, Fla. — Hurricane Helene unleashed heavy flooding in the historic fishing village of Cortez. Now, residents are reflecting on the night of the storm as they take on the grim task of gutting out their homes and trashing their belongings.

“The water was up to here, up to my ribs,” said Katie Scarlett Tupin, retracing the steps she took the night of the storm.

Tupin and her husband had to swim and then walk on to find dry land. They took several trips to save her two dogs and three cats.

“I’m holding my dog, Piper, over my shoulder. I keep walking and praying out loud. 65 mile an hour winds,” she said.

Battling the high water wasn’t the only problem.

“Sharks are bumping into me. There’s fish swimming around, power lines going everywhere. Fires starting,” she said.

At the end of the road, she found a light on in a house and was taken in by a neighbor.

“I was scared that all my animals were going to die. Jeff and I were going to die. My daughter and her two sons would be left without parents,” she said.

When they finally returned to their house, their main concern was for all the animals they were forced to leave behind. They lost one bird.

“We didn’t know what it was going to look like. My heart’s racing, just everything. Just everything. Home. Animals. We were lucky to be alive. We’re still in shock,” she said.

Tupin is a charter captain. Her family has been living in Cortez by the water for six generations. She says it has never flooded before.

“I’ve never experienced flooding or surge like this before,” she said.

Tupin says more than three feet of water flooded their home and it will be costly to fix since the couple doesn’t have flood insurance.

Like many near the water in Manatee County, Tupin’s rebuild is starting now.

A supply drive is taking place in Bradenton this Saturday, Oct. 5 at O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.