Hurricane Milton's Effects on Anna Maria Island

[@lilitoledo615]

Heart breaking 💔 this is my favorite island.

[@tommidakota37]

Same😢

[@yohan50111]

My very first time to visit AMI was between 8/24 - 8/31 which is just crazy to me. Because, I was watching Debbie, to see what it would do to AMI and cancel if cause chaos to AMI. Vacation was amazing, laid back AMI, quiet, less traffic because of days went. Then, we get back home, news about Helene, didn't really think that Helene would make threat but did, then Milton. Thankfully, Milton moved further South, weakening the storm surge projections for AMI. My concern is for owners/business making a rush to get vacationers back to AMI for business revenue, lets just pause this for vacationer like myself. I for one love to see AMI before Helene/Milton and like many others that I seen AMI. I mean Rod/Reel is gone, AMI pier 50 ft of it gone.

[@debbieduffy5121]

Yes. It was my special place to go to. My daughter worked on the island and had many friends who live there. The rod and reel was an iconic place and will be missed.

[@loismcdonald1478]

Amazing Grace that it is not totally destroyed as predicted!!!

[@Mr.PanHandler]

Grew up on the north end of AMI. The Center was just the gymnasium at that point. 80 year-old folks (like so many others) lost everything. Horrible.

[@laflakvar]

My heart is with all of them

[@janicedecisneros5476]

Any idea if BT Bones Rest. is still there? The Anchor Inn ? Holmes Beach

[@NickTy556]

Honestly not that bad. Most of that damage is from Helene not Milton.

[@DAN22941]

I would have to agree after seeing what hurricane Michael did to Mexico Beach in the panhandle, homes wiped off the foundation. I don’t think we realize how lucky we really got with the downgrade of the categories, as it approached. If this hit as a category 5 we would be in a totally different situation.

[@ncktyu]

Exactly. I’m right off 75th and Cortez and although it did a lot of damage to the surrounding area, we only lost power for about 6 hours in my community. I couldn’t imagine the damage it would have done if it hit land at a category 5.

[@DAN22941]

As far as a positive.. Mother Nature allowed Midnight Pass to re open even further.. idk these are times we have to reflect and consider this as a reset… we love our beaches to death.. she’s not happy with us. Need to respect the environment more. The more people we cram in the more devastation there will be. The barrier islands are there to protect the main land. Food for thought.

[@Puzekat2]

Damage is nowhere as severe as Ian was. Tampa, Florida resident we are so grateful we did not get an Ian type storm on our coast. Milton flooded north and west of where it landed.

[@roundabout1419]

Rebuilding on these barrier islands is a fool's errand.

[@christainhernandez7089]

Lol that's like saying Dallas Texas,new Orleans, New York, California,ex is a fools errand natural disaster will happen no matter where u live. The last hurricane that hit here in a category 3 was 100 yrs ago the people who live it are all dead now.

[@waynezimmer1288]

Or a rich man’s luxury as they can never be insured. This is a good thing as it can largely go back to a natural beach that everyone and everything can enjoy.

[@CapnD505]

Have to build up high, which makes it very expensive. Then properties turn into rentals in order to justify the cost. And now it’s no longer a place to live.

[@boricuaracing11]

I’ve lived on the coast my whole life. They will just keep rebuilding. Mexico beach Florida almost wiped off the map. Rebuilding almost back to babies but never the same.

[@fawnker5276]

I take care of a 1958 bungalow on the island. Fools errand? I know of places in Tennessee that have been hit by a tornado twice. Which one has lasted longer?

[@LoveMyCoffee10]

How is Longboat Key? Particularly the Waterclub. LBK Club, Golf course on Gulf side? Thank you. Very sad … praying for everyone 🙏

[@EllenLBuikema]

Does anyone know if Angelinos Sea Lodge on Avenue E in Holmes Beach is still intact?

[@celiaa.5274]

Thank you for capturing these images. My aunt’s condo is located at 2716 Gulf Drive, Sunset Beach Condos. It is between Manatee and Cortez, closer to the Island Bazaar. Does anyone have footage or updates?

[@Kingead412]

Your dumbass just doxxed ur aunt

[@Rose-xq4bd]

AMI Stay Strong. They will rebuild

[@Hanson3]

My Brother has a place on AMI (School Key) NE Side. They fared okay with Milton, but HOlene was not so good.

[@michaelheller_KW]

Yes Helene all in all was much worse. A little more wind damage on siding and roofing of some of the homes but all in all much of the damage is still from Helene

[@offwithhishead2556]

We have friends Bay Blvd South. If you can get your drone there I would appreciate it as they are not answering phone/email.

[@irishbull65]

Hope you’ve heard from them by now, but I’m about 40 miles north and connectivity issues are probably the issue. ❤

[@offwithhishead2556]

@@irishbull65 Yeah, they made it out OK, looks like the house got inundated though.

[@TimLutz-v2z]

Michael, do you have footage of just before timestamp 1:11? I’m looking for footage of 507 Key Royal Drive. It just misses it at 1:11. It’s the family’s house and we are gearing up to come down and fix it up. We were just wondering how bad it was so that we can bring the appropriate supplies.

[@michaelheller_KW]

Unfortunately I don’t have that. I ran out of battery but posted everything I have. The bridge is still closed and much of the battery on my drone was taken from the flight over the water onto the island. I will say that every house in that area looked similar. No catastrophic damage to any homes in that area. Just a lot of debris and sand/mud

[@TimLutz-v2z]

@@michaelheller_KW Thank you for looking. Your videos are very helpful. It's open today and hopefully we can get the property manager out there to take pics for us. Thanks again!

[@JayDavis-q9x]

I would love to see Gulf Place condominium in Holmes Beach. I know the good folks of AMI will rebuild and it will be just as beautiful.

[@NancyEsposito-c1k]

Any idea how much damage to Vinny’s Italian market

[@sf55514]

It is a barrier Isand.

[@rich1958]

They need to get those homes raised like they do at NJ shore since Hurricane Sandy.

[@alisont.6940]

The pickleball courts look fine. Let's build homes out of pickleball courts.

[@nanak2025]

You could start a good business ,people send you addresses and you drone their location to assess damage and status if they can't be there. It is vital information if you can't be there in person and brings peace of mind to just know what we are dealing with when we can go

[@sololobo11b]

There is a reason why they are called BARRIER ISLANDS. I have no sympathy for those who build there.

[@loismiller7742]

My friends lived on 77th st. Helene left 30" in house. Milton? Worse? I know they are ok, but what is next for them and all of those people? How can they salvage buildings @ that much toxic & salt water damage?

[@christainhernandez7089]

The only way is by tearing everything the see water touch Sheetrock beams columns framing wires ex and installing it new pressure washing the sea salt of the metal and concrete. It will be very costly. Those are 2-15 million dollar homes there can be some that might over exceed that

[@ZacharyStitz]

Does anyone have video between Cortez bridge and manatee bridge? Trying to see near Via Roma on beach side

[@drlonz7835]

That's what I wanted to see too. Our condo is across the street from Publix and my family hasn't gotten back to the island yet. but thank you for at least this video

[@michaelheller_KW]

@@drlonz7835sorry I do not have footage of this. I will let you know if I’m able to capture it.

[@michaelheller_KW]

sorry I do not have footage of this. I will let you know if I’m able to capture it.

[@Dragonfly657]

Pure devastation so so sad 😢

[@catherinekraning1799]

Homes and roofs are mostly intact. This isn't devastation that I can see 🤷‍♀️ lots of sand and water damage surely, but it will be cleaned up with lots of work and time and be back to beautiful.

[@TurnOffYourTV]

Wags and Scoob sunk

[@plaboyvalley9348]

Would someone high levels of important get ahold of me I've got a billion dollar idea and it would keep things from like this from happening

[@byrnc927]

I am glad that I am not wealthy. Our 10 miles inland survived without a drop of water getting inside. Going to go out and pick up some branches, rake up some leaves, and all done. The simple life has none of these huge problems. Of course, our insurance rates will quintuple to cover these folks

[@raccoon874]

*So possibly the super-stupid rental prices will come down finally.*

[@Longenecker1776]

I doubt it. That’s what I thought about Sanibel.

[@raccoon874]

@@Longenecker1776 oh well.. they can keep their crappy water-soaked walls & mattresses then

[@Spartan536]

@@raccoon874 It would take a Category 5 with 200 mph sustained winds and 250 mph gusts with 25 feet of storm surge to reset property and rental prices. Of course such a storm hitting this area even after what Helene and Milton have done to the area would be akin to a thermonuclear blast that would ensure 90% of the population would not rebuild, it would turn Manatee County into a ghost town.

[@catherinekraning1799]

Never gonna happen...up only sadly. I think this summer was our last trip there. 😢

[@Longenecker1776]

@@raccoon874 Hopefully more people don’t want to go after they rebuild it, but I doubt it.

[@JMPants]

Dont worry, surely they all have full coverage insurance living that close to the ocean, right? So show those scientists whos boss, tell them you wont be bullied out of your homes, collect those insurance checks and rebuild. Rebuild exactly in the same spot, prove to science and nature that you know better. I dare you.

[@karenedwards746]

What’s your problem

[@1971plymouthcuda]

If you could get a little closer next time that would be helpful. Hard to see anything without zooming in and then it’s to grainy.