CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater Marine Aquarium is back open this week after sustaining significant flooding and damage during Hurricane Helene.
Its damage is mostly concealed from guests, but in the areas where the animals are cared for behind the scenes the storm's impact is still apparent.
"As you walk through you can see the water level was up about four feet," explained VP of Zoological Care Kelly Martin. "So we took all the drywall out and everything down to the studs."
Martin, who hunkered down at the aquarium through the hurricane to keep an eye on the marine life, said sandbags were no match for the storm surge in Clearwater.
"It came in so quickly. In a matter of minutes, it came up through the drains, in through the roadways and over the sea wall," said Martin. "It's devastating to see the facility where you work in the state it was in. There's water damage, there's stains, there's equipment not working at all, there's no lights!"
Roughly two weeks later, Hurricane Milton took out more fencing, lights and solar panels.
The non-profit aquarium estimates that hurricanes caused more than $2.5 million in damage.
Martin said, "We're a small not-for-profit so it's difficult to recover all the things we've worked for years to get to."
Martin said several costly repairs to crucial infrastructure are needed before the aquarium can welcome back its manatees and sea turtles: "We're currently working on donations for life support systems. This is the pumps, the filters, the 'behind the scenes.'"
Now, the aquarium is seeking assistance to make their haven for marine life whole again.
"We can't do this without the help of the community, we have million dollars in damage," said Martin. "We still need help."
CMA has raised more than $170,000 through donations so far. It is also collecting needed items through an online wish list.
To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.
To learn more about the wish list, click here.