John Berman here in for Anderson, we are at a truck stop in Perry, Florida.

This is a location and a part of the state that took enormous damage from Hurricane

Idalia.

Now Tropical Storm Idalia, which still does pose a serious threat elsewhere.

You can see the damage it did here at this truck stop.

The storm passed directly overhead here and it took that awning behind me and simply

just tipped it over and there was brick and metal that was holding it in place that's

now just shredded this exploded brick and this twisted metal with the awning leaning

completely on its side.

You can take a look.

This is actually what it looked like right where I'm standing earlier today as the worst

of the wind hit.

You can see the awning there it is and that's it tipping over.

Here in Perry it was a wind and a rain storm.

During the Gulf Coast though it was all about the storm surge, a surge not seen in a lifetime.

This is Alexis De Leon and yes where she was in the hometown she had recently returned

to.

Swimming down the street was how she ended up getting around.

Alexis will join us shortly.

We're also going to speak to a resident of another hearted area, the barrier island of

Cedar Key.

A man who told us last night he was staying in part to help any neighbors who were hunkering

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