COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Hurricane Milton caused a lot of damage in the Cocoa Beach area, including homes, businesses, and the world-famous pier.

As cleanup continues, residents are trying to pick up the pieces to get their lives and livelihoods back.

A crew worked Thursday to level out part of the Cocoa Beach Pier’s roof after Milton ripped it away. It’s part of the building where catering supplies are kept.

The goal was to get the roof covered to protect it from rain until it can be repaired.

Down St. Croix Avenue, neighbors are sifting through damage to their homes after the strong storm rolled through.

Most houses and properties have some damage, with some being more severe than others.

There was roof damage, large trees were uprooted and, for homeowner Robert Hemings, a pool enclosure was blown to pieces.

“This pool enclosure has been here for over 40 years,” he said.

It survived the mid 2000s hurricanes, Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Irma, but not Milton.

“It’s hard to believe this one was different than the rest of them,” said Hemings.

He, his wife and their daughter and her dog huddled in the hallway when the storm's intensity seemed to have come out of nowhere.

“We really didn’t know what happened, it really was a freaky experience,” Hemings said.