Hurricane Helene is gone, but her trail of scars remains.
In the hours after Helene’s peak storm surge, the people in flood-prone areas across Pinellas County discovered scenes of cars under several feet of sand, houses burned, small businesses lost and lives upended. Images from the ground told the story of the area’s worst storm in a century.
But to fully grasp just how vast the area of Helene’s damage spans, from the islands to the mainland, the federal National Ocean Service on Sunday flew over the Tampa Bay area to capture high-definition images.
These images are a “crucial tool” to determine the full extent of Helene’s damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the ocean service. The imagery should help residents living in the Tampa Bay area get a better idea of how the major hurricane lashed into property and the environment.
Pilots previously flew over Florida’s Big Bend region on Friday and to Cedar Key and Steinhatchee a day later. All of the post-storm aerial imagery can be found here.
Three days after Helene buzz-sawed its way past the region, here’s what crews saw as they flew over Pinellas County.
Pass-A-Grille Beach
On Pass-A-Grille Beach, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
On Pass-A-Grille Beach, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
The Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach
At the Don CeSar hotel on St. Pete Beach, forecasters projected 3 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
Sunset Beach
On Sunset Beach, forecasters projected 3 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
Flora Wylie Park in Downtown St. Petersburg
At Flora Wylie Park in Downtown St. Petersburg, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
Shore Acres neighborhood
In Pinellas County’s Shore Acres neighborhood, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water or greater above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
In Pinellas County’s Shore Acres neighborhood, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water or greater above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to document the storm damage from above. This image shows a house that burnt down. [ National Ocean Service ]
Fort De Soto Park
At Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water or greater above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
St. Pete Pier, Downtown St. Petersburg
At the St. Pete Pier in Downtown St. Petersburg, forecasters projected 3 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]
