Hurricane Helene damage tops $358M in unincorporated Manatee

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Manatee County officials say they are working on relief efforts and have come up with preliminary damage assessments. Among the hardest-hit areas of the county are beach communities, Rubonia, Perico Bay and mobile home parks, officials say.

Manatee County staff released “windshield assessment” results on Sept. 30 that do not include the coastal communities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, officials say; the damage assessments only include the unincorporated areas of Manatee County.

Nearly 550 residences and more than 50 businesses have been destroyed, according to the preliminary report. Residential damages total almost $354 million, while commercial damage is more than $4.6 million, officials say, adding up to over $358 million for both.