After being flooded in Hurricanes Helene and Milton, businesses in downtown Punta Gorda are working to get back on track.
Both hurricanes brought several feet of water and muck into businesses along Marion Ave., with Milton bringing the most flooding of the two.
Watch Fox 4’s Alex Orenczuk report on businesses cleaning up in Punta Gorda after Helene and Milton:
DRYING OUT: some Punta Gorda businesses are recovering faster than others
“We had everything boarded up and sandbagged and tapped and still the water found its way in,” said Alina Cosman, owner of HipNotique Boutique. “It was much lower with Helene, but the second time [Milton] really got us. Anything we thought we would save by putting it up on higher ground this time got wet as well.”
Cosman told Fox 4 that for small business owners, cleaning up after a hurricane is more than just mopping the floor. She said the reality of trying to clean, communicate with her landlord for repairs, and apply for assistance is a logistical nightmare.