The first thing residents brought up is how back-to-back hurricanes cut a big new hole through their thin barrier island. They stood among the human-made structures destroyed by hurricanes Helene and Milton — sand-filled mobile homes crumpled like cans,

Scores of Manasota Key homes and businesses were severely damaged after Hurricane Helene landed on Sept. 26. Then last Wednesday came Milton’s much higher storm surge and more powerful wind, strong enough to rip entire homes from their foundations and toss them into the water.