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Hurricane Helene caused record surge and widespread destruction across Florida's Gulf Coast. 

Check out photos from the storm below. And follow our live blog for the latest storm recovery updates from Tampa Bay.

A flooded road is seen after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Cedar Key, Florida, on September 27, 2024. Hurricane Helene weakened on September 27 hours after it made landfall in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving fl

A flooded road in Cedar Key. Photo by Miguel Rodriguez / AFP

Debris are left inside a flooded store after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Cedar Key, Florida, on September 27, 2024. Hurricane Helene weakened on September 27 hours after it made landfall in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it surged in

Debris inside a flooded store in Cedar Key. Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images

Westbound Bayshore boulevard is flooded on Friday morning. 

A stretch of Bayshore Boulevard remained flooded Friday morning. Photo: Yacob Reyes/Axios

Flood waters inundate the main street after Hurricane Helene passed offshore on September 27, 2024 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in Florida's Big Bend with winds up to 140 mph and storm surges. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Flood waters inundate the main street in Tarpon Springs. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Holiday Inn on the Intracoastal Waterway shows a caved in roof and high waters.

Damage to the Holiday Inn viewed from the bridge to Indian Rocks Beach. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

Sand and debris fill a street in the Tampa Bay area.

Receded storm surge at the entrance to Indian Shores, coming over the Park Boulevard bridge. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

The sand is just everywhere. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

A jet ski on land in a driveway in front of an iron gate and a white stone wall.

Chunks of docks, random trash and debris, and a jet ski washed up in peoples' yards in a neighborhood off 74th Avenue in Seminole, just west of Boca Ciega Millennium Park. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

Wreckage in Indian Shores: signs and debris fill a sandy street.

  Wreckage in Indian Shores. Photo courtesy of Pinellas County Sheriff's Office 

A white powerboat washed up on the shore under Belleaire Causeway

Under the Belleair Causeway. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

Water covering a ramp and a white pleasure boat washed ashore under the Belleaire Causeway

Bent and leaning sign for Tropicana Field in St. Pete.

16Th street and First Ave N in St. Pete, outside Tropicana Field. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

Water floods a downtown street in Tampa. A blue street sign and trees are seen in the background.

Flooded Tampa. Photo: Tampa Police Department.

Storm surge crashing against the shoreline with houses in the background. 

The Gulf crashing on shore in St. Pete Beach on Thursday. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A capsized blue and white boat thrashing on its side in the churn of the storm surge from Hurricane Helene. 

A capsized boat washing ashore Thursday in St. Pete. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A surfer in black shorts on a gray board jumps a wave.

A surfer in St. Pete Beach on Thursday. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Two jet-skiers play in the crashing, churning surf before Hurricane Helene hits St. Pete. 

Wave running in the Gulf of Mexico off St. Pete Beach. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A white Mercedes stuck in surge water in St. Pete. 

A stranded car in St. Pete. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A capsized boat washes ashore as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Peteersburg Florida.

A capsized boat washes ashore in St. Pete. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Water from the Gulf of Mexico floods a road as Hurricane Helene churns offshore on September 26, 2024 in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Water from the Gulf floods a road in St. Pete Beach. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

This aerial view shows a house on the shoreline ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene in Alligator Point, Florida, on September 26, 2024. Parts of Florida face "unsurvivable" conditions when Hurricane Helene hits later Thursday, the US weather service said, warning that howling wind will drive de

A house on the shoreline at Alligator Point in the Big Bend. Photo: Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

A circle of people around a big mound of sand, filling white sandbags.

Filling sandbags at Helen Howarth Park on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Pinellas Park. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A gorgeous pink sunset dapples the calm waters and the cloudy sky on Wednesday, Sept. 25, before Hurricane Helene arrived.

Wednesday night, Sept. 25, in Steinhatchee, Fla., before Hurricane Helene arrived. Photo: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images

Photos: Hurricane Helene's destructive march through Florida

The powerful storm caused widespread flooding and damage throughout the state.

Debris left by Hurricane Helene after making landfall are seen in Cedar Key, Florida, on September 27, 2024. Hurricane Helene weakened on September 27 hours after it made landfall in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving

Destruction left by Hurricane Helenein Cedar Key. Photo by MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Hurricane Helene caused record surge and widespread destruction across Florida&#x27;s Gulf Coast. <ul><li>Check out photos from the storm below. And <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="follow our live blog" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/09/25/hurricane-helene-updates-evacuations-florida" data-vars-content-id="7880a633-c598-4803-a94b-efecb841ae96" data-vars-headline="Photos: Hurricane Helene&#x27;s destructive march through Florida" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/09/25/hurricane-helene-updates-evacuations-florida" target="_self">follow our live blog</a> for the latest storm recovery updates from Tampa Bay.</li></ul>

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Climate

Pinellas County has tips and precautions to share with residents and businesses eager to do some DIY sand removal. 

🔑 1 key thing: You can return sand to the beach. Just not all the sand. 

How it works: Clean sand only. Don't return sand to the beach that's

📍 Where to put it: Above the high water line.

Don't place it on top of dune plants, turtle nests, storm debris or construction debris.

🚜 Caution: If you use equipment, beware of buried water lines and other infrastructure. 

🙅 Other general sand-removal warnings: 

Don't push it into any right-of-way, or onto the road. 

Don't try to clear public roads. The county is working on state approvals to return clean sand to the beach.

Stuck with sand that doesn't meet the safe-to-clear standards listed above?  

Then you must request permission to return it to the beach from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (840-245-2094 or email CCCL@FloridaDEP.gov). 
 

How to get rid of the sand left by Hurricane Helene

Pinellas County issued tips and precautions for returning sand to the beach.

An aerial view of sand covering lawns, roads with some colorful houses sprinkled in between.

The mess near Caddy's Treasure Island. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Pinellas County has tips and precautions to share with residents and businesses eager to do some DIY sand removal. 🔑 1 key thing: You can return sand to the beach. Just not all the sand.

Kristen Hinman

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How to get rid of the sand left by Hurricane Helene