ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (WFLA) — Residents in south St. Petersburg are wondering what their communities will look like in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
They aren’t just talking about the cleanup but the possibility of losing their neighbors.
Piles of debris line the curb along Kingston Street off 22nd Avenue South near 37th street south.
What’s stacked in those piles once belonged to the people in the homes behind them. Joe Lawson said it feels bad to see what the piles of his things, thrown away like it was nothing.
“It’s not a good feeling at all,” Lawson said.
Joe Lawson has been on this street since 1978. Williemae Boone said is was 1987 when she moved here. Sandra Harris knew it down to the date, November 5th 1979.
They’ve seen their community change in some ways that comfort them.
“The only reason I moved in here is because of Williemae. I adore her,” Alexander Green said. “She means the absolute world to me. She’s one of my favorite people.”
Green sits next to Boone on the porch. There’s a small water mark on the pilar next to them.
“I guess I’m adopted as a grandma,” said Boone.
A change they are not too fond of, is the storm surge that swept through their homes. It was unlike anything they’ve ever seen.
“This is the very first time I’ve met devastation like this,” Boone said.
The future of their homes and neighborhood is uncertain.
“That’s my biggest fear that people aren’t going to be able to rebuild,” Green said. “Everybody is fantastic here, but not everybody has the means to get back into their homes.”
Sandra Harris lives a few doors down. She said she did not have water damage inside her house.
“I just prayed and the water stopped right there where you can see it,” said Harris, while pointing at the second step to her front door.
Though her car and garage flooded out, she can’t help but to think about her neighbors.
“What are they going to do? Where are they going to stay until then?” said Harris. “We just don’t know what to do. We don’t know where we are going to get the help we need immediately for the people down there.”
They don’t have all the answers just yet, but for now they said they will wait for those piles to be picked up, and be grateful for what they have in each other.
“I’m hoping that insurance kicks in, I’m hoping FEMA kicks in and helps everybody be able to stay in their homes because they are not going to get what it’s worth to go find something else. Especially if they’ve been here their whole lives. It’s not fair to be displaced,” said Green.