Some areas along the Gulf Coast of Florida are still under reconstruction after hurricanes Helen and Miltonduring the 2024 hurricane season, it's the Sunshine Bureau's back-to-back.

But the hotspot travel communities are also trying to share a simple but crucial message that they do business.

Caddy's Waterfront, Treasury Island, Florida, set up a makeshift restaurant in a parking lot next door and equipped with a food truck as its physical building was repaired by last year's storm.

"We have all the tables. We have a full bar. We have a TV. We have sound, music. It's really a restaurant we built from scratch."

Santasieri said it was important to have his staff back up and run, and it was equally important to get tourists back.

"I don't think tourism is that place. But, during the holidays, we've been in tourism a lot," he said.

The impact of tourism on the Gulf Coast

Tourism is the main economic engine for Gulf Coast communities. Last year, more than 15 million visitors had a $11 billion impact on St. Petersburg, Florida and the Clearwater area of ​​Florida.

This year, it remains to be seen. While businesses and hotels are backing up and running, there are still scars from the storm.

On Madeira Beach, more than 1,400 structures are damaged. New York City has issued as many building permits as residents, with about 2,000.

“We were swallowed up by the bay,” said Madra Beach city manager Robin Gomez. “The surge pushed upwards by 7 feet.”

After working hard to rebuild, businesses appreciate the support they receive and are full of hope for the future.

“We have a lot of families every year, but now we just need more people to support,” said Savannah Huskie, store manager for the Bronze Lady of Madeira Beach.

For some people, there is still work to be done.

“When you live here, you have to expect something similar to happen,” said Andreas Bieri, one of the owners of Mucky Duck Bar and Restaurant.

They started the restaurant 50 years ago until last year's violent storm upgraded it, but Bieri said they were still lucky while continuing to rebuild nine months later.

"I can't really complain that you know too much, we're here. We're seeing the lights at the end of the tunnel. We're rebuilding everything...we want to reopen business during Christmas."

Although the destruction of the past is still fresh, the coastal community has not forgotten the upcoming Hurricane season.

"It's always in my mind. But we're ready. We're ready, it's just what you have to do - living in this environment, which is what we call "two miles long, smile" in heaven, but that does bring some costs ... the price we pay for living next to the bay," Gomez said.

2025 NOAA Atlantic hurricane season forecast

Last month, NOAA announced its Atlantic hurricane season 2025, Predict 60% of the chances beyond the normal season.

NOAA is expected to have 13 to 19 named storms, with 6 to 10 of them becoming hurricanes. About three to five could be major hurricanes, forecasters said.

this Atlantic hurricane season Starting from June 1st and lasting until November 30th.

In the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, there are 18 named Storms, 11 Hurricanes and 5 Major Hurricanes, which are defined as 3 or larger storms.