Cortez resident reports lingering stress from Helene.

CORTEZ, Fla. — Residents in the Bay Area are expressing anxiety as they face another storm season, a reaction rooted in the distress many experienced last fall.

Among them is Cortez resident J.D. White, who continues to grapple with the trauma from last year’s storms while devising a preparedness plan for the future.

Since Hurricane Helene inundated his trailer at Sunny Shores, stress has become a constant in J.D. White’s life. “Stressful. Very stressful,” he recalled. “I had lost pretty much everything. I remember going down this road, trying to ride my old bike, and swimming out of here.”

White, who chose to remain during the storm, faced the terrifying challenge of fleeing as floodwaters rose. Since that day, he has struggled with post-traumatic stress but finds some solace in cycling. “It feels great. I’ve done it forever,” he remarked. “It feels good — I see my neighbors out again.”

In an effort to mitigate his anxiety, he has formulated a strategy for the impending storm season. “I have renter’s insurance now — hopefully that covers things,” White stated. “I’m also going to have a bag packed. I’ll probably leave this time — head to higher ground or out of state if I have to.”

His foremost concern lies with his walking aids, which suffered damage in last year’s flooding. “These stimulate my legs so I can pick up my feet when I walk — so I don’t fall,” he explained. He hopes to acquire a new pair soon, stressing their importance for his mobility: “I just want to make sure that I get walk aids. And that’s the biggest thing because if I don’t have them, I’ll fall.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding this storm season, White remains steadfast in his commitment to his preparedness plan.