TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Eagle 8 flew over several areas across Tampa Bay, surveying the damage from Hurricane Helene. On Monday, our crews surveyed the damage in Siesta Key and went up the Manatee and Sarasota coastline. They then flew over Hernando Beach.

On Pass-A-Grille Beach, forecasters projected 6 feet or greater of water above ground just hours before Hurricane Helene's storm surge peaked on Thursday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Service flew over the Tampa Bay area on Sunday to help document the storm damage from above. [ National Ocean Service ]

With every passing hour since Hurricane Helene swiped Tampa Bay, a stark reality sharpens:We're at the beginning of a long road to recovery.State of play: Governments, organizations and industrious neighbors are working to provide immediate relief to storm survivors,