« Before any of us were even able to assess the damages to our homes, we were preyed upon by people driving around, » JoEllen Conover told Newsweek.
In Hudson, Florida, the residents of the Sea Pines neighborhood are still recovering from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, and they now face a new threat: looters, and another powerful storm—Hurricane Milton—approaching fast.
JoEllen Conover, a Sea Pines resident, took to social media to share a video of her community’s struggle. In the video, piles of destroyed possessions line the sidewalk. Makeshift signs written on pieces of cardboard and wood warning looters to stay away reflect the frustration and fear of residents trying to protect what little remains of their homes.
« We had a 5-foot storm surge, causing massive destruction. All single-story homes, like ours, lost everything », Conover told Newsweek, recalling how houses were submerged in water up to the kitchen countertops.
As the residents started to assess the damage to their homes, moving soaked belongings to the curbside, a new threat appeared—looters.
« No looting! Scram », read one hastily written sign, while another said: « Not your stuff to take.
