'It just kept rising': St. Pete Beach man survives storm surge from Helene

While he waits for federal assistance, Vincent Tormenia said he's blown away by community members and businesses in St. Pete Beach who have helped clear debris and feed families who are struggling after Helene.

[edriley]

Beachfront property is a known risk. Great when the weather cooperates, sucks when it doesn't.

[ducheau]

What the hell does he expect. He wants to live very close to a shore line and he is angry at the County for not providing immediate assistance. Such a sense of entitlement

[deborahclayton]

Blame the local government for flooding, but I’ve never understood why people were allowed to build on barrier islands in the first place. It amazes me when I zoom down on Google Earth to see all the barrier islands around Florida….millions of homes right to the waters edge. All mangrove growths there cleaned out years ago. Crazy! Developers made nothing but and now insurance companies are expected to pay the bills.

[maddieronk]

at 65 i have seen tons of storms. raised in the panhandle, first panama city, later pensacola. now i live in tampa. here's the deal. you buy a home on or near the water's edge. storm comes and floods your home. (that's what hurricanes do). now you are acting like a victim, like everyone should stop what they are doing and come help you. i've been middle class all my life and now i'm on SSI. my whole life, my tax dollars go to rich people (compared to me) to rebuild their home in the EXACT spot their home was at before. you think you DESERVE to be bailed out by the government, that the PEOPLE in this country should pay for your home on the water . well.., get in line.

[MS-tyeq]

Once again Pinellas you're on a peninsula right on the Gulf of Mexico and you know it but you all refuse to accept the inevitable. loving your sunsets when it's great weather. Stop waiting for Big Daddy government to come and put your life back together because he's not coming. Now get to work. Don't tell me this guy is poor.

[ericw]

This should not be happening? WTF. He lives on a barrier island. Does he want 10 foot floodwalls built around it?!?!

[johnsilver]

Didn't evacuate and on the beachfront ???

[bradgibson]

You want the City to learn from their mistakes!!!!???? You have got to be kidding me!! Where's Obama when you need him?