The SRQ MEDIA team is local. We live and love local, and for the past few days we have sheltered and evacuated and stayed in touch with each other just like the rest of our wonderful community. We watched with worried eyes locked to innumerable social media sites as our already weary region was lashed and battered by this historic storm.

Now, it’s the day after. The winds have calmed and the waters have receded from their storm surge peaks. We hope and pray that the loss of life was as near to zero as possible. Our Gulf Coast community has been struck by two historic storms in just a few weeks. The process of rebuilding and repairing seems Herculean, and it may be, but as a community, we have the strength to conquer this challenge.

Our community is resilient. Our friends and neighbors are amazing. Our community leaders are the sort of people who are at their best in the face of adversity. The true riches of Sarasota and Manatee—our people— are still here. Many are standing ready to begin rebuilding even this morning as the sun rises and shows what the hurricane has taken. Our locals are adventurers living lives of exuberance—in good times we are filled with joy and celebration. And now, in this moment of difficulty, we will answer the call to rebuild, recover and restore the wonders of Sarasota and Manatee.

SRQ: We Love Local, We Live Local, and We Will Rebuild Local. Together.

—From Wes Roberts and Lisl Liang, SRQ MEDIA founders and owners on behalf of ourselves and the incredible team of dedicated locals that make-up our team.