CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — The Crystal River Kayak Company and Dive Center was set to reopen its doors Saturday after damage from Hurricane Idalia.
Instead, crews had to demolish it Saturday after damage from a tornado that touched down early Thursday.
"I'm still having a hard time swallowing it. I thought I was over the crying process, but I saw the kayak manager once again and it all just came back," manager Don Markham said.
Remnants between the rubble are all that's left.
Markham said they were able to move back Wednesday just hours before the tornado touched down. The business had more than 2 feet of flood damage following Hurricane Idalia. Employees spent weeks getting the business back on its feet, with help from the community and volunteers. Now, that process begins again.
Then there are nearby business owners like Ryan DeLarco of Sparky's Green Rides. Like others in Citrus County, his business was flooded from the hurricane in August and finally was able to reopen two weeks ago.
Now, DeLarco must rely on business at his Inverness shop location in order to earn money after two disasters.
"All we try to do is just keep our head up and keep our head moving on at this point. That's all we can do," DeLarco said.
The tornado also didn't spare some homes in the area. The Ridgeview Apartment Complex saw some of the worst of the damage leaving some of its neighbors with temporary housing and relying on donations to make ends meet.
While disaster knocked Crystal River down again, Markham believes the business and the community can rebuild twice as strong.
"They welcomed me with open arms," Markham said. "This business has become my home."
Another tornado touched down in the Clearwater and Dunedin area.