Duke Energy Florida reported about 29,000 Pinellas County customers without power as of 5:15 p.m. And it might be a while before that number approaches zero. While Duke has said it’s working to restore power to homes and businesses that are structurally sound, the hardest-hit parts of the Pinellas beaches could endure outages well into October.

As Helene barreled its way through the Carolinas late last week, thousands of Duke Energy customers remained without power on Monday.

The Charlotte utility giant said damage from the storm is "unlike anything we have seen before in the Carolinas."