HERNANDO BEACH, Fla. — It's been one week since Hurricane Helene made landfall, and homeowners across Florida are still picking up the pieces.

Along residential streets in Hernando Beach, homes are still being cleaned out and gutted. It’s a process that is going to take some time.

“I’ve ridden a few out, ran away from a few. This one caught me," said resident George Friel.

For Friel, there was no running away from Hurricane Helene.

“Helene knocked on the door and we are pretty much left with four walls and a roof," he said. "Everything inside is gone.”

His single story home, or "fisherman’s shack," as he calls it, now stands as a shell of its former self, as belongings lay tossed about from Helene’s storm surge.

“There’s an example of high-end, waterproof plank flooring," said Friel, pointing to his kitchen floor. "Some of it stayed down but, in most cases, it was so waterproof that it didn’t soak up any water. It floated up on top of it.”

Friel said it was a tough scene to come back to, after evacuating to a friend’s house during the storm. Friel had built much of the home, including his outdoor deck — some precious memories handcrafted in some of its features.

“We sunk everything pretty deep and with the cement and stuff like that, and yet the water volume was enough to lift it right up. Luckily, it didn’t carry it off into the canal," Friel said.

As clean up continues, Friel begins to think about what’s next. To rebuild or move out? Helene is yet another storm that has brought destruction.

“That’s the power of Mother Nature and she’s an equal opportunity offender. You know, we’re not the only one in these straits,” he said.

It's something Friel thinks over as he gets his life back on track.

Hernando County has set up mobile shower and restroom stations for homeowners as they repair their homes. The personal hygiene trailer is located off of Shoal Line Boulevard. You can learn more about available resources online here.