Six months after Hurricane Helene inundated Redington Shores with floodwaters, some residents are just now obtaining detailed damage assessments.

Kellie Sipos received a report indicating her home sustained less than 49% damage. She’s now in a frantic rush to reconstruct before the next storm season.

“There’s widespread panic,” Sipos told Bay News 9. “Our greatest worry is that we’ll barely get resettled before hurricane season strikes again.”

The Atlantic hurricane season kicks off in June.

“Many jumped the gun and began tearing things down without permits,” Sipos explained. “You’ll notice red tags popping up where they’ve been caught.”

In Redington Shores, a stop work order demands immediate cessation of all construction activities and adherence to specific conditions, with noncompliance risking hefty fines, legal action, or worse.

According to Sipos, some have demolished their properties entirely, while others are offloading them to condominium developers.

Having lived there for 40 years, Sipos has observed the beaches growing increasingly crowded.

“How can we cram more people onto these shores? How do you evacuate them fast enough?” she questioned.

Sipos also highlighted the scarcity of available contractors.

“Securing a contractor is the toughest part right now. I’m aiming for three or four months, but my husband warns me to temper my expectations,” she said.

For now, she’s cordoned off half her house as a makeshift living area and intends to raise the structure to protect against future storms.

“Another hit this year might force me into early retirement and a move to Georgia,” Sipos admitted.

She’s evaluating her next steps, fully aware that recovering from another catastrophe would be a daunting task.

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