Clearwater officials urge public to stay away as cleanup goes on [Video]

Barrier islands reopen to the public at 4 p.m. Tuesday, but the damage and debris is still widespread

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A massive cleanup is still underway in Clearwater Beach where homes and businesses were devastated by Hurricane Helene’s storm surge.

On Monday, traffic lights were still offline, sand and debris filled the air as crews cleared feet of sand from the roads and small businesses owners scrapped piles of their flood-damaged belongings

“A lot of water, looks like it was at least three feet inside a lot of the properties,” says Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill General Manager Chris Tiemeier.

The popular Clearwater spot suffered water damage, their outdoor eating deck was filled with sand and their parking lot buckled under the strength of the storm surge.

“We’ve never seen this,” said Tiemeier. “I mean, we’ve seen water come up, but I’ve never seen the parking lot come up and break …