PALMETTO, Fla. (WWSB) – Erin Paris, a longtime Manatee County resident, told ABC7 that she and her family saw two huge ships run aground in the backyard of her Palmetto home during Hurricane Helene.

“My husband and son went out to tie down the boat during the storm so it wouldn’t crash into our dock or the neighbors’ dock,” she said.

Not only that, but another boat almost crashed into his mother-in-law’s house.

“Luckily we got her out, but it was still scary to see her come so close,” Paris said.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, boats are considered abandoned after 45 days of abandonment, depending on other criteria.

Paris says she is working with state officials to allocate funds to create legislation that would alleviate the problem in Florida.

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