Residents of Punta Gorda are keeping a close eye on the Atlantic as Tropical Storm Humberto looms, but panic hasn't set in yet.
Many people are thankful that the hurricane season has been relatively calm so far and hope the storm will bypass Southwest Florida.
"We still haven't got this place cleaned up, it's still a wreck," said Eddie, a Punta Gorda resident, reflecting on the aftermath of previous hurricanes Helene and Milton.
David Walton, another Punta Gorda resident, shared his experiences. "Houses with roofs, two off of them. Trucks is missing, Windows missing, you know, pain, but I'm still here. I got my health. That's the main thing," said Walton.
The cycle of preparing for storms, enduring them, and cleaning up afterward is a familiar routine for Floridians during hurricane season.
"A lot of the things still haven't been restored, but, you know, they cleaned it up to where we can come and have a good time anyway," said George, a Charlotte County resident.
As the tropics remain active with more storms forming, it's uncertain if Southwest Florida will be in Humberto's path. However, Punta Gorda residents are ready to take action if necessary.
"Put some shutters down and stuff like that," Walton advised.
"Anything that I want, you bring it inside. And that don't mean it's safe, but it's safer than it was outside," said Eddie.
George emphasized the importance of community. "Take care of the neighbors next door, what you have, take care of the little guys over here," he said.
Ultimately, hope and prayer are seen as essential preparations when a storm is on the horizon.
"Pray about it, leaving [it to] the Lord... that's all we can do. You know, the Lord, Mother Nature is when you got the answers to it, we just pray and do what's best for us and for the houses," Walton said.
