When Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Gulf Coast this week, one of the hardest-hit areas was the small town of Steinhatchee, overwhelmed by a 10-foot storm surge and 140 mph winds.

Most of the town’s 500 residents evacuated the area – and returned to find their homes and businesses destroyed.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Donna Landon, whose mobile home just outside the city limits was totaled.

“We were wiped off the map. There’s nothing left. I have insurance, but now I have to rebuild.”

The postal service toured Steinhatchee — about 90 miles southeast of the state capital Tallahassee — on Friday. Only a few buildings remained standing and those that did sustained significant damage.

“I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t been touched by this,” Landon said. “But this is a community where everyone looks out for each other.”

On Friday, road rangers from four surrounding states rolled into the city to try to repair the shattered power grid and restore power to the city – but there’s still a long way to go.

“It’s going to take weeks to fix the problem,” warned Russ Rhodes, who was part of a team repairing a fallen utility pole.

“We basically have to start from scratch.”

Roy’s Restaurant on the banks of the Steinhatchee River was completely destroyed by the wrath of Hurricane Helene – just nine months after reopening after Hurricane Idalia last year.

“Our employees are safe,” the restaurant manager said in a Facebook Live. “The restaurant wasn’t that good. But that’s okay. We are thinking about our community, our employees and everyone who is affected out there. We love her.”

Roy’s owner Linda Wicker vowed to rebuild the 54-year-old local staple.

“I think that’s what we need to do,” Wicker told the Palm Beach Post, adding that she has more than 30 employees. “It’s insured, but it’s never enough.”

Steinhatchee, like much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the Category 4 storm, which brought high winds and historic flooding.

At least 45 people had been killed as of Saturday afternoon.

In the nearby town of Perry, nearly 7,000 residents survey the damage. Trees blocked many major roads and power poles splintered into several pieces. Roofs of houses have been torn off and there is no electricity or running water.

“I’ve been in Florida my whole life,” said Nancy Belleville, 80. “My whole life, and it’s never been this bad. But I’m still alive and everyone I love is still alive, so I’m grateful to God for sparing us.”

Helene weakened Saturday as it crossed western Kentucky and the Tennessee border.

Small squalls of rain and weakened wind gusts will move across the central Appalachians through Sunday.