CORTEZ, Fla. — Many Bay Area residents are concerned about the upcoming storm season — a natural reaction, considering the stressful experience many had last fall.

One Cortez man is still processing that trauma — and now, he’s building a plan to be ready for whatever comes next.

J.D. White says stress has been a constant presence in his life since Hurricane Helene flooded his trailer home at Sunny Shores in Cortez.

“Stressful. Very stressful," he said. "I had lost pretty much everything. I remember going down this road, trying to ride my old bike, and swimming out of here.”

White, who has cerebral palsy, stayed during the storm and had to escape rising floodwaters.

Since then, he said he’s been living with post-traumatic stress, but he says riding his bike helps.

“It feels great. I’ve done it forever," he said. "It feels good — I see my neighbors out again.”

To help lower his stress, he has created a plan to prepare for the next storm.

“I have renter’s insurance now — hopefully that covers things," White said. "I’m also going to have a bag packed. I’ll probably leave this time — head to higher ground or out of state if I have to.”

His biggest worry currently are his walk aids, which were damaged last year.

“These stimulate my legs so I can pick up my feet when I walk — so I don’t fall,” he said.

He is hoping to get a new pair soon.

“I just want to make sure that I get walk aids. And that’s the biggest thing," White said. "Because if I don’t have them, I’ll fall. You know what I mean? Because you trip before you have foot drop.”

While there is uncertainty about the upcoming storm season, White said he is determined to stick to his plan to be prepared.