Airports opened rapidly, but other services — segments of major bridges, a sewage treatment facility and beaches — lagged in recovering.

As first responders across Tampa Bay worked to assess damage Friday morning from Hurricane Helene, emergency managers reported that more than 1,000 people had been rescued overnight across a three-county region.

Sand piled along Gulf Boulevard looked like snowbanks. Boats were dragged ashore into downtown Gulfport. And waters submerged the streets of Davis Islands even after the sun rose and surge