ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — As folks in Pinellas County watch the forecast and prep for the potential storm ahead, the name Debby rings familiar for folks near Pass-a-Grille Beach and beyond.
Back in 2012, then-Tropical Storm Debby caused beach loss, erosion, flooding and even brought tornados through the area as it sat on top 12 years ago.
“[I remember] the high tides, the flooding,” Rick Falkenstein, who owns Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, said.
His spot has been a staple in the community since the 1970s, and he’s been here for every storm since.
“I’ve been through so many, you just hope nothing bad happens, if it does, it does, that’s why most of us have insurance. Save life, that’s the important thing," Falkenstein said.
He began doing preps Friday ahead of potential weekend impacts while he watches the forecasts closely.
“Just prep and get ready, tomorrow depending on what the weatherman says on Channel 10, we’ll either flip the tables over, lay down outside the stuff," Falkenstein said. “The biggest thing, I want my staff to be ready so they can go home and prepare and be ready for the high tide if it comes.”
Right now, crews are working hard on a massive beach renourishment project on the beach, in part because of erosion from storm loss over the years.
Pinellas County says crews will be demobilizing beginning Saturday and will pause work until the storm threat passes. Since starting the more than $5 million project, they anticipated potential pauses due to weather, with a completion date set for November or December.