DAVIS ISLANDS, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane season is right here once more, and several other throughout Tampa Bay are nonetheless recovering from final season’s storms.
For one couple on Davis Islands, the reminiscences of floodwaters, loss, and beginning over are nonetheless contemporary.
John and Julie Fillingim moved to Davis Islands in 2021 by no means considering a hurricane would flood their avenue, not to mention their lounge. However when hurricane season hit, they realized simply how briskly situations can flip.
“Helene is the one which bought us,” John stated. “You recognize, we had, we had been visiting with of us that lived on the island for years that day, and so they stated, ‘Oh, don’t fear about it. By no means floods. Davis Islands doesn’t flood. It’s been 100 years,’ and we listened to that an excessive amount of.”
The couple stayed till water crawled as much as their entrance door, then knew they needed to go away.
“We stayed till about 9:30 when the water bought to the entrance of the home and we left in my truck,” he stated. “So we had been in a position to drive out (with) most likely 3 toes of water down by TGH.”
Once they returned, they couldn’t even drive onto Davis Islands. The harm was already carried out. The floodwaters had shifted their complete dwelling round.
“We bought right here, and the skin lights had been on,” Julie stated. “So, we’re like, nicely, perhaps it’s not so unhealthy. After which we opened this door.”
Inside, the waterline was proof of what they misplaced. The couple grabbed brooms and began pushing water out of the home.
“It was devastating. We simply opened all of the doorways and bought brooms and began pushing out.”
They weren’t alone.
“Everyone had all the things they’d, together with us, on the curb,” Julie recalled. “And it was full devastation.”
The storm’s influence was greater than bodily.
“I’ve by no means been afraid of hurricanes in my life till now,” John stated.
Via all of it, Julie stated she’s holding onto what actually issues, sporting a tank high that learn, “By no means hand over.”
“By no means hand over,” she stated. “We’ve been by way of lots, and it doesn’t matter what occurs, we’re by no means going to surrender.”
Now, the Fillingims stated they’ll evacuate early and urge their new neighbors to take hurricane season significantly.
