I was on the beaches for my job yesterday and even though I knew the beaches were devastated from just getting hit by a glancing blow from Helene., it was still a shock to look down every street and see piles and piles of debris.

We maintain aquariums for two restaurants on the beach. This is one of them.

They were cleaning up from the storm surge entering their building. The other restaurant was also flooded. I felt bad for them knowing the next storm could potentially be twice as bad.

My wife managed to get us a room at the Hampton Inn in New Port Richey, almost 30 miles to the north of us.

The trip up here was not good for Frankie. The cats were stuck in their carriers for the long trip up here and then for an additional 20 to 30 minutes while we waited for our room to be ready. When we finally let them out we found that Frankie pooped in his carrier.

Since then they have settled in nicely.

Now we just pray that we will have a home to go back to.