One year after Hurricane Helene struck Anna Maria Island, longtime Holmes Beach resident and City Commissioner Carol Soustek shares her thoughts on the damage and displacement that she, her home, her neighbors and her city sustained, and the ongoing recovery process.
By Carol Soustek
Guest columnist
I left the Island with two days of clothes, personal items and important papers. As in the past, I expected to be home within 48 hours.
When the hotel had no room for me, I transferred to another hotel for a week. When I was allowed back on the Island, I could not comprehend in my mind the damage I was seeing. It was horrible. The roads, homes, trees, buildings and everything else were beat up and looking so bad. My home was filled with slimy wet residue that smelled bad. The refrigerator had tipped over, the furniture had moved every which way, the mattresses were sopping wet and clothes had fallen onto the floors.
I could not handle it and I went into a “fog” state of mind. I functioned, but with no plans, no emotion. After everything was thrown out into my yard and my home was gutted, I just stopped thinking. I was numb. Then, my neighbors and my family came to my aid, helping wherever they could.
We started laughing over silly stories about habits we had that now do not work with no power, no water or no walls. We were all trying to move forward but there is no book telling you what to do next. You learn as you go. I was out of my home for nine months, living in an RV, hotels and staying with family.
I made mistakes with the repair work at first, but the city’s building department set me on a good path and I made progress. I used all the insurance money and two of my retirement accounts to pay for it all. I was determined that this storm was not going to make me leave my Island.
I am back in my home and still working on fixing the outside of the building and yard. It felt strange at first being back because everything is new, not old and comfortable – like I was still in a hotel room. My neighbors are now back in their homes and still working on various projects. Some neighbors have not started the rebuild.
Things will not be the same as before. We were knocked off our feet and we need time to regain our confidence and feelings of safety. Every day I feel better inside. I am where I want to be. My community will rebuild because Islanders are crazy, but so strong in their desire to live here.
