Punta Gorda leaders say the flooding from Hurricane Helene is the worst the city has ever seen. Mayor Lynne Matthews said she hasn't seen it this bad ever in the nearly three decades she's lived here.
The flooding was widespread. The first people to likely have water intrusion were the ones who live in the historic district.
"This was unbelievable last evening because once it came over the road, it just kept on coming," Paul Chupka said. "It just never stopped."
Chupka and his family live across from Gilchrist Park. He said while most of his neighboring streets flood during a regular summer storm, his street does not. So, when the Peace River breached into the park and across West Retta Esplanade, he knew there was trouble.
"Our garage went underwater, and then the downstairs portion of the house also went underwater. We had 2.5ft of water through everything," he said.
The 1893 home just finished being repaired from wind damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Now, the family is left to start construction all over again.
"This was unbelievable," Chupka said. "It's another storm of the century."
Among his losses: a car, a bedroom set and lots of memories.
One junk removal company has already approached the family about their services. Emergency Management Director, Patrick Fuller, wants people to be very careful in who they hire.
"Unfortunately, after any type of disaster, there are individuals who will prey upon people in the recovery. It's very important that our residents remain alert to the potential for fraud or, gouging," Fuller explained. "It's very important to ensure that you see their license, their their ability to actually operate as a business within the state of Florida, other licensure under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to do the work, the specific work that, you're being they're being contracted to do."