The first was by Hurricane Helene, a storm that passed by Sarasota and Manatee counties about 100 miles offshore, before making landfall the night of Sept. 26 in Florida's Big Bend, near Perry. Helene, Izzo said, ”really ravaged the coastline, but that was different – people got water in their properties with Helene.

Reverse storm surge happens when the wind from the storm pushes the excess water away from shore instead of pushing it onto the coast and it happened during Hurricanes Irma and Ian. WeatherTiger meteorologist Ryan Truchelut told USA TODAY that if Milton makes landfall to the south of Tampa Bay, it could happen again.

On one side, Dustin Pasteur, vice president of Facilities and Construction, can be seen inspecting a 10-foot high section of the AquaFence. On the other, floodwaters from Hillsborough Bay lapped against the barrier. The surge from the storm reached seven feet.