Following Hurricane Ian, many in Volusia County did not have the time needed to strengthen and shore up their homes for Nicole.

Since the mandatory evacuation before the storm, residents in the towns of Daytona Beach Shores and Wilbur By The Sea are coming back.

Some homeowners thought they and their homes would be safe through the storm.

Snowbird Harvey Oest is checking on his Wilbur By The Sea home for the first time since Nicole.

“It was a storm, just malicious all the way,” he said.

He was one of the 20 homeowners that officials asked to leave town before the storm hit. His walkway access to the beach is gone, most of the backyard too, but the house still stands, unlike his next-door neighbors.

“At least 30 feet, and that’s not much compared to what I am looking at out here, is it? People lost well over a 100 feet,” Oest continued.

Down the road, Beth Ehly has seen enough.

“It makes me cry, it’s just if you, I saw the neighbors’ house fall in the ocean. I just happened to be looking when it went in. It’s disgusting, never should have happened, that’s the sad thing,” she said.

If she had her wish, their home would be on the market tomorrow.

For many in Wilbur By The Sea, owning a beachfront property was a dream come true, however after this year’s storm season, that dream has become a nightmare for several in this community as their homes are now in the sea.

Charlie Tolleson has called Wilbur By The Sea home for 32 years. Neighbors say he’s the oldest resident their beach community has.

His home, because of unforeseen circumstances, may come with a view soon.

“Ha ha ha, I hope it improves the price of my home by having an ocean view, but I tell you it’s sad. I play golf with the owner here,” resident Charlie Tolleson told Spectrum News.

On Friday, Volusia County building inspectors were out and marked at least 15 homes in this beach community unsafe, not to be occupied. As many now clean up, or pack up, Wilbur By The Sea will never be the same, and many here are still trying to determine what their next move will be.

As the waves have quieted down since Nicole, so has Wilbur By The Sea. Sadly the reason being, fewer people are now calling this beach community home.