Pinellas County barrier islands remain closed after being battered by Hurricane Helene

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - Pinellas County's barrier islands were closed Friday after Hurricane Helene as first responders worked to clear the roads and access damage to homes and businesses swamped by storm surge.

The damage is so severe that Pinellas County officials have shut off potable water to the barrier islands from John’s Pass to Fort De Soto Park. Any remaining water must be boiled before use, specifically affecting St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and Tierra Verde customers.

For many, the extent of the destruction from the storm was a first.

"Before there’d be minor flooding but nothing to this magnitude," said Claudia Fergang, a Treasure Island resident who stayed on the barrier island in her second-floor condominium.

Treasure Island Fire Rescue Chief Trip Barrs said crews are still working to access places like Sunset Beach.

"There’s six feet of sand over the roads with telephone poles and debris," said Barrs. 

Officials allowed some residents to walk onto Treasure Island on Friday, where Sarah and Joe Puchner walked two miles to check on their home.

"We’ve been told maybe four feet of water on the ground floor and no power for sure," said Sarah Puchner. 

Others came to check on loved ones who rode out the storm.

"He said that he’s okay, his family’s okay," Jordan Wacker, who came to Treasure Island to check on her boyfriend. "I’m just bringing him waters and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches right now."

Barrier Islands damage

Crews are working to assess the area, clean up, and determine when it will be safe to return. In video posted online by the city of Treasure Island, crews in construction vehicles were seen plowing water off sand-covered roads. 

On Madeira Beach, residents said they experienced devastating storm surge into houses and businesses. A family visiting from England hitched a ride to the airport from a good Samaritan, not expecting their hotel stay to include a hurricane. 

"It was quite scary really. The waves were coming over and hitting the back of our window, and we thought for sure the window was going to go. But it held thank goodness," said Debbie Miller, a London visitor who stayed at a hotel in North Redington Beach.

Video showed large boats smashed into homes along Treasure Island. 

A little further north, sand was piled along roads in Indian Rocks Beach. 

On Madeira Beach, officials found debris, displaced cars and burst pipes. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Madeira Beach was almost ‘unrecognizable.’ 

FOX 13's Kailey Tracy says the beaches on the barrier islands look like a war zone. She says everything from baby strollers to patio furniture to toilets has washed up on the sands.

Iconic restaurants like Woody's, the Toasted Monkey and Caddy's were severely damaged. 

Clean up on the barrier islands will last awhile.

"It’s not going to be normal for months and months," said Barrs.

Barrier Islands rescues

The barrier islands were under a mandatory evacuation, but some people decided to shelter in place. Crews began rescues around 4:30 a.m. on Friday after the worst of the storm passed.

"We’ve probably brought 50 people out today. We unfortunately have had five fatalities," said Chief Barrs. "We had five structure fires over the nighttime period, and we were not able to go out. We had to let it burn. We were not able to make access."

Search and rescue teams from across the country are here to help.

"The Texas Urban Search and Rescue team is a type 1 team. They have structural engineers embedded. They’re going from Tierra Verde all the way up through Pinellas Suncoast area to the Redington and Belleair to structurally access every building and do a secondary search," said Barrs. 

A photo online, shows first responders walking through sand, helping a woman get to safety on Treasure Island. 

Cleanup hotline

A cleanup hotline has been activated. Anyone in need of help is asked to call 844-965-1386.

Volunteers will help for free and the hotline is open through October 11. 

Officials say residents should take pictures of any and all damage for insurance purposes. 

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