TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. – It wasn’t his typical trip back home.
For News4JAX meteorologist Mark Collins, he had to face what lay ahead of him when he returned to his hometown of Treasure Island, which is off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“I really don’t know if I’m prepared to see what I’m about to see in my hometown,” Mark said.
Mark called the damages from Hurricane Helene a “complete destruction.” Down the street of homes that were once familiar to him was the same story - personal belongings sitting on the curb as damage left behind by the storm.
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“This was not a heavy rain event,” Mark explained. “In fact, this spot only got 2 inches of rain. The winds were not impressive, but you can write off every single home.”
It was the storm surge that caused severe flooding. Cars ruined. Homes destroyed.
His childhood home received at least 2 to 3 feet of water alone.
Mark’s father faced the storm at home and was fortunately safe, but four people in Treasure Island lost their lives because of the storm.
Watch Mark give us a tour of the damage to his father’s home in the player above.