In October, tornadoes tore through Dunedin, surprising many, including local business owners who are still recovering from the damage. Cindy Haynes, an employee at The Gym in Dunedin, expressed the difficulties they have faced in trying to rebuild since the storms damaged their building.
The Gym is located in the Dunedin Causeway Plaza, which was one of several businesses affected by the tornadoes. Many of the businesses in the plaza suffered from damaged roofs, broken windows, and broken AC units, causing them to appear closed to potential customers.
Owner of the Happy Cactus Mexican Cocina, Alma Hernandez, shared her experience of how the storm impacted her business. Despite installing a mini-split AC unit to keep the restaurant cool, some customers have not returned, assuming they are closed due to the damages from the storm.
Business owners are currently waiting for insurance claims to be processed and hope to receive enough support to keep their businesses open this coming summer. With families to support and bills to pay, they are relying on the community to help them stay afloat during this challenging time.
In addition to this, ABC Action News reporter Katie LaGrone is continuing to follow the story of Jimmy Klass, a Floridian who discovered he was not a U.S. citizen after 64 years. She is also sharing the story of another Floridian who learned the same after living in the U.S. for nearly 60 years, highlighting the complexities of immigration and citizenship.