When Hurricane Helene’s storm surge rolled through Anna Maria Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast two weeks ago, it caused extensive damage that residents said the island had never seen before. The island was in the process of cleaning up and disposing of the objects and materials destroyed by the floodwaters when Hurricane Milton approached the area. There was a significant concern among residents and officials that the debris piles, which were visible along every road on the island, could become projectiles during the new storm.
New aerial images captured by Vexcel Imaging reveal that the trash piles have remained largely intact. Despite facing storm surge and high winds, the debris still lines the roadways, with most of it showing minimal movement. The images also indicate that the island is now covered in a substantial amount of new, albeit smaller debris, in addition to the remnants of the floodwaters.
