Last fall, still stinging from the damage wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Crowder Brothers Ace Hardware in St. Pete Beach found itself in the same boat as many of its customers—dealing with extensive flood damage and a long road to recovery.

The store was forced to close for two months as employees worked to clean up and make repairs. Assistant Manager Adam Rawson, who helped lead the rebuilding effort, recalls the steady stream of residents arriving even before the store reopened.

“People had lost their cars, their homes — they just needed the basics like supplies and generators,” Rawson told Bay News 9. “We were all going through it together, so we gave hugs, shared support, and got the store open as fast as we could for the community.”

Now, with hurricane season officially beginning June 1, the store is busy once again — this time with residents preparing in advance. Shelves are stocked with essentials like batteries, bottled water, gas canisters, and generators, and customers aren’t waiting for a storm to strike.

“We’re ready for the next one,” Rawson said. “And we’re making sure the community is, too.”

Early shoppers include many seasonal residents, or snowbirds, who are often among the first to jumpstart their preparations.

“We love our seasonal residents — they’re proactive and flexible when it comes to preparing and finding solutions,” Rawson added.

One longtime local, Rick Hilber, isn’t taking any chances after nearly two feet of flooding damaged his St. Pete Beach home during Hurricane Helene.

“That storm just never ended,” said Hilber. “People are still feeling the impact, and some will be for the next 20 years.”

Now fully prepped, Hilber has equipped his home with two generators — a primary and a backup — both mounted on lifts and wired with a manual transfer switch to avoid flood damage.

“Maintenance is key,” he said. “You can’t expect your generator to run in an emergency if you haven’t started it in months. Fire it up every three months, minimum.”

He also advises moving valuables to the highest shelves to protect against floodwaters.

Across the bay in Treasure Island, Kerri Spring just completed repairs to her condo after the hurricanes. She’s now focused on storm preparation, having seen firsthand how quickly back-to-back storms can leave residents with little time to react.

“This year, we’re ready,” Spring said. “Now we understand what others go through when a hurricane hits — Fort Myers, Louisiana, Texas — now we know how it feels.”

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