Residents of Siesta Key take stock of flooded homes and businesses just hours after up to seven feet of storm surge washed through the island.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you hear the words hurricane or tropical storm you probably think of damaging winds, heavy rain, the eyewall, and flash flooding. However, storm surge is often overlooked as the most dangerous impact in a tropical system.

Six coastal towns and cities on Florida’s Gulf Coast — which is especially vulnerable to storm-driven flooding — broke storm surge records during Hurricane Helene, according to data analyzed by The Post.

As Hurricane Helene approaches Florida's Big Bend coast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a dire warning, calling the expected storm surge "unsurvivable." The rapidly intensifying storm is forecast to make landfall on Thursday evening as a Category 3 or stronger hurricane and evacuations have been ordered for several Florida counties.

Hurricane Helene is projected to have a storm surge that could go as high as 20 feet. Here's what to know about storm surges and damage they cause.

In Clearwater, one of the hardest-hit regions, water levels surged to a record 8.6 feet, eclipsing the previous high of 6.8 feet. Similarly, in East Bay, levels peaked at 7.3 feet, surpassing the old record of 6.7 feet.

Storm surge is a bigger killer than wind when a major hurricane hits shore. The areas in the path of Hurricane Helene are more susceptible to surge than other parts of Florida's coast.

Hurricane Helene's staggering storm surge inundated neighborhoods on Siesta Key, leaving businesses and residents with a long road to recovery.

Sarasota and Manatee County residents are still discovering the scope of damage caused by Hurricane Helene, especially on the barrier islands, where officials were still clearing roads, restoring utilities and checking for any public safety issues before gradually allowing residents to return.