ASTOR, Fla. — Good news in the city of Astor: More than a month after Hurricane Nicole hit, flooding is no longer a concern. And while water levels remain high, boating is open and snowbirds are flocking to the area as things slowly get back to normal.

“We’re still getting questions (about) flooding," said Astor Chamber of Commerce vice president William Nordle. "Now it’s the drying out, the cleaning up, the repairing."

Things are finally returning to normal for Ryan Adams at the Big River Marina and Lodge.

“When I get out here, which is a couple times a week, I basically want to come walk the property, see if any maintenance is required, and make sure everything is in tiptop shape,” said Adams, who owns the property.

As a Florida native, Adams said he’s no stranger to storms. But buying this motel in Astor definitely came with some new hurdles during storm season. Sitting right on the Saint John’s river, it was damaged during Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. But not like others.

“There’s other properties, our neighbors, that got hurt and wet," he said. "What we see here never went under water."

There was a bit of cleanup, but nothing Adams said he couldn’t handle.

“We are definitely open for business," he said. "People are definitely coming out of the woodwork. This big cold snap up north has got the phone ringing."

But something that is taking a major hit is his boat tours.

“Boat tours are a lot of fun, it gets a lot of people on site here," Adams said. "They often decide they want to stay for the weekend or come back next weekend."

The restrictions that are currently on the St. Johns River don’t affect how his boat tours are run, but because of the high water levels, they affect the speed the boats can go.

As more snow birds head down south, Adams is hoping business continues to go up.

Boats are expected to go idle speed and no-wake throughout the residential areas, as well as the waterways that meander through Astor. The restrictions are in effect because of the high waters and prevent boaters from creating wakes and flooding people’s yards.