In Bay Pines’ Harbor Lights Club, a once-idyllic waterfront mobile home park, the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton is still painfully evident. Nearly eight months since the storms hit, broken docks, shattered homes, and sunken boats remain scattered across the community.

“It was like a resort to be down there,” longtime resident Victor Docherty told WTVT. “It wasn’t just a neighborhood — it was a beautiful place to live.”

Now, that beauty is overshadowed by vulnerability.

“Several waterfront units are still heavily damaged,” said resident Richard Tellone. “One even has two boats inside the living room.”

As the new hurricane season looms, many residents are opting to sell and leave. For Barbara Tellone, the choice was clear: “I never want to experience a night like that again — and that sea wall looks way too low.”

Another homeowner echoed the sentiment: “After going through that trauma, we decided it was time to move on.”

But selling hasn’t been easy. The visible damage is deterring potential buyers.

“Why has cleanup taken so long?” Richard asked. “It hurts the chances of selling — for all of us — when you still see this level of destruction months later.”

Many residents, mostly retirees, lack insurance, which may be contributing to the slow recovery.

“Most of us are on fixed incomes,” Richard added. “The cost of repairs is overwhelming, and that’s probably why so much is still untouched.”

FEMA guidelines and local government red tape have also added complications.

“People didn’t know what to do or how to start,” Barbara explained. “The paperwork was confusing, and the city didn’t make it easy.”

Despite the challenges, some residents remain committed to rebuilding and restoring their tight-knit community.

“We’ve all learned a lot through this,” said Richard. “It’s been a tough road, but we’re trying to bring it back.”

WTVT reached out to the park’s management company, Roots Management, for comment on the cleanup delays, but has not yet received a response.

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(Image credit: WTVT)

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