TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay area first responders are back home after helping people affected by Hurricane Sally in the Florida panhandle. 

The category two storm packed a punch to Florida panhandle residents, who still dealt with high water levels even days after the storm passed through. 

First responders from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, St. Pete Fire Rescue, and Tampa Fire Rescue helped with search and rescues. They say the next step for residents is the recovery. 

"As the community starts to recover from this, they're going to try to recover whatever they've lost. So the basic needs that everybody needs is food and water and shelter," St. Pete Fire Rescue Captain Todd Livingston said. 

Other first responders from across the state have also traveled to the panhandle to help residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally.