MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Manatee County woman is doing all she can to help victims of the hurricanes in Cortez Village.

Judy Rupp has been going house to house to see how the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island can be of assistance.

As Rupp drove along one street on a recent morning, she could not help but notice all of the storm debris in people’s front yards, but she also noticed the quaint historic homes in what started out as a fishing village.

“It’s still such a sweet, charming little village even with all this debris,” she said.

Rupp said the recent hurricanes caused more damage than other storms in the area she remembers. She said her rotary club made a commitment to help people.

“I was fortunate that I had the time, and I could do it. So, I decided this would be my job. This was something I could do,” she said.

Rotary club members present a used Town and Country van to Wendy Gagne. (Spectrum News)

Her first stop of the morning was at Wendy and Albert Gagne’s rustic home built in the early 1900s.

Wendy took Rupp inside to show her the damage cause by Hurricane Helen’s storm surge.

“The water came all the way up over the plugs over here,” said Wendy as she pointed to electrical outlets.

Wendy told Rupp how quickly the storm surge flooded her home. She was caught off guard.

“I was putting down towels not knowing we were going to have four feet of water in the house,” she said.

The stove and refrigerator in the kitchen were ruined. Rupp collaborated with the rotary club to get a mini fridge for Wendy, and was hoping to arrange for a full-sized refrigerator and stove as well.

Rupp said going from home to home to check on people’s needs was an emotional experience.

“You know, a lot of tears and a lot of laughter,” she said. “A lot of tears because I cry anyway. Everybody tells me their story and I am amazed at their stamina and their strength.”