Hurricanes Helene and Milton inflicted so much damage that Madeira Beach Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks is concerned about the future of the city’s roughly 4,000 full-time residents, as many struggle to afford the cost of rebuilding.

“The impact on our city is immense,” Mayor Brooks told 10 Tampa Bay. “It’s clear Madeira Beach will never look the same.” Nearly 1,700 homes and condos were damaged by Hurricane Helene, leaving residents grappling with whether to rebuild or sell.

The city of Madeira Beach is working to help residents access grants and loans, but the FEMA 50% rule presents a major challenge. Under this rule, if repair costs exceed 50% of a home’s value, owners must bring the structure up to current flood and building codes, often requiring costly elevation that many can’t afford. “Driving around the city, you see small houses from the 1950s that make up our fishing village,” Brooks said. “If those owners can’t afford to rebuild, they’ll sell, and the buyers likely won’t be local.”

Brian Azevedo, a Madeira Beach resident of five decades, is among those looking to leave rather than rebuild. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I can’t do it anymore,” he said, noting that changes to the island community have been underway for years. “It used to be all cottages and two-lane roads. It’s turning into another Clearwater Beach.”

Mayor Brooks remains focused on helping residents stay. “Our goal is to help as many people keep their homes and rebuild because that’s who we are as a community,” she said.

The city council will meet on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since Hurricane Helene to discuss ongoing recovery efforts, including $5 million in damages to public infrastructure, and to explore ways to support residents through this challenging rebuilding process.

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(Image credit: Cathy Salustri)