Neighbors help neighbors in Manatee County following Ian

When it comes to cleaning up after Hurricane Ian, many residents living in Manatee County said they never even realized who their neighbors were until they were knocking on their door asking how they could help. “We were in the living room and the next thing you know just, ‘bam,’ and I go, ‘there goes the tree, there goes the power lines,”’ said Alison Rhoden, who lives in the Southern Parkway neighborhood. Rhoden is seven months pregnant, trying to take care of an 8-year-old daughter, a disabled husband and now, a damaged home after Hurricane Ian sent large branches tumbling down on the roof. She said she couldn’t do it all without the help of her neighbors.