People living near South Padre Island face serious danger during a hurricane, and in communities like Laguna Heights, the question isn't just about supplies — it's about whether homes can survive the storm.

For many families along the coast, hurricane prep means boarding up windows and stocking up on food and water. But some homes in the area are patched, aging, or not anchored to the ground at all.

Louis Villarreal has lived on Wilson Street in Laguna Heights for more than 40 years. In that time, he has evacuated up to five times as hurricanes threatened the coast.

He also survived a tornado in 2023 that tore through his town. That same tornado killed his cousin, Robert Flores, who lived just feet away from him.

"Things can be replaced, but not the life," Villarreal said.

Flores lived in a mobile home that couldn't withstand the storm. The land is now an empty lot.

Channel 5 News walked that street with National Weather Service Warning Coordinator Barry Goldsmith. Goldsmith said the home had little chance of surviving — no anchors, braces, or support.

"Which was a combination of an RV, trailer, maybe some stucco added on, no bracing, no anchoring, and our winds, which we estimate between 85 and 105 miles per hour, literally blew it away," Goldsmith said.

As they walked the street, Goldsmith pointed out the risks other residents still face today.

Goldsmith pointed out the risks other residents still face today, noting that safety comes down to three main structural principles.

"Keep the building solidly attached to the ground," Goldsmith said. "You need to brace all the wall connections.

Without that, strong winds can lift roofs or tear a home apart.

Villarreal said his home isn't anchored and may not survive a major hurricane. His plan, if one comes, is straightforward — board up, pack up, and leave.

People who live in Laguna Heights are among the most vulnerable in the Rio Grande Valley. With a hurricane, there is more warning than most people had with the tornado back in May 2023.

Watch the video above for the full story.