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Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend region.
And although the storm did not take a direct hit on the Tampa Bay area, it produced a storm surge that closed bridges, flooded roads, and surge that inundated coastal areas — especially in Pinellas County.
Here's a sampling of the impact Helene left behind.
Madeira Beach
Tarpon Springs
Town 'N Country
Indian Shores
Safety Harbor
Belleair Causeway
Tampa Riverwalk
Casey Key
Sarasota County Government
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Courtesy
Damage at Casey Key in Sarasota following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 24, 2024
Copyright 2024 WUSF 89.7
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Damage in Madeira Beach from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Damage in Madeira Beach from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Damage in Madeira Beach from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Steve Newborn / WUSF
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WUSF
A look at the flooding in Tarpon Springs from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Steve Newborn / WUSF
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WUSF
A look at the flooding in Tarpon Springs from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Steve Newborn / WUSF
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WUSF
A look at the flooding in Tarpon Springs from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Steve Newborn / WUSF
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WUSF
A look at the flooding in Tarpon Springs from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Jessica Meszaros / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Town 'N Country following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Jessica Meszaros / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Town 'N Country following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Jessica Meszaros / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Town 'N Country following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding in Indian Shores following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Carl Lisciandrello / WUSF
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WUSF
The after-effects of Hurricane Helene in Safety Harbor, including the pier at Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, which was destroyed.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding and damage along Belleair Causeway from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Mark Scantlebury / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding along the Tampa Riverwalk following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Mark Scantlebury / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding along the Tampa Riverwalk following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
Mark Scantlebury / WUSF
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WUSF
Flooding along the Tampa Riverwalk following Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.
The Queensland Umbrella Tree is native to Australia, but was introduced to North America at least by early in the 20th century. It quickly became popular as a landscape plant in Florida and other sub-tropical states and was also cultivated as a houseplant that became (and still is) popular in more northern areas. Unfortunately – as with many other exotics, it took decades for us to realize negative aspects of the plant on our environment.Queensland Umbrella Trees have very shallow roots that can break up sidewalks, driveways, and building foundations.
Least terns and black skimmers have faced especially challenging conditions at several Sanibel colonies, where repeated plundering by coyotes have reduced nesting success and caused birds to shift to the causeway and islands around it.
Between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., Monday, June 22 through Friday, July 17, motorists may encounter intermittent northbound and southbound outside lane closures on Interstate 75 between the Corkscrew Road Interchange and Estero Parkway overpass.