A Brevard County business hit hard by Hurricane Matthew last year is looking to rebuild again after Hurricane Irma.
- Sea Aire Motel saw 7 guest rooms severely damaged
- Hurricane Matthew caused roof damage to motel last year
Seven guest rooms lost their roof at the Sea Aire Motel on State Road A1A. General manager Gary Jenkins suspects a twister spawned by Irma caused the destruction.
“It just got underneath the roof and flipped it back,” said Jenkins about the Cocoa Beach motel.
The rooms, which overlook the Atlantic Ocean, were destroyed.
“It just rips your heart out. You work with it every day, you see people in here enjoying themselves, families in the yard, on the beach and then when you see it, you go ‘Nah, can’t be,’” said Jenkins, who has been the general manager for the motel for 20 years.
Jenkins also lives at the motel and during Hurricane Matthew last year, the storm ripped off the roof of his apartment, causing extensive damage as well.
Despite the damage over the years, the owner promises to rebuild.
Jenkins says nine guest rooms on the other side of the property were basically untouched by the storm. He is hoping to have them ready for rent as soon as next week.
Reconstruction on the other seven rooms will take some time.