Residents living in Sea Gate are keeping their eyes toward the water. Four years after Hurricane Sandy hit the waterfront community, some are hoping Hermine doesn't pack quite the same punch. NY1's Gene Apodaca filed the following report.

In this bayside neighborhood of Sea Gate, Peter Spanakos is spending his Sunday enjoying family. He is mindful, however, that just miles beyond his fence, Hermine is still churning. 

"It could turn any moment, so the last minute, it could turn against us," Spanakos said.

Four years ago, Spanakos' home was one of several hit by Hurricane Sandy. The storm tore through this private gated community with devastating storm surge and powerful winds.  

Several properties were left flattened. Spanakos, though, was one of those spared major damage. 

"I got lucky because I had the pool covered, everything was flattened down. I got heavy stuff. I've been through so many storms, I've learned to secure all the chairs and tables," he said.

Still, as Hermine approaches, memories of Sandy remain on many people's minds here. At the Sea Gate Beach Club, a wall of photos shows just how bad the damage was.  

"Sandy was crippling. The people to this day in this community have not recovered, and I don't know if they ever will," said Beach Club manager Joe Pascone.

It's that reason club managers shut down the entire venue this Labor Day weekend. All 300-plus cabanas locked, and the restaurant out of commission, owners taking a huge financial loss on what would otherwise be a lucrative holiday. 

"Had Sandy not occurred, you would realize that this storm might have been overlooked, but you cannot overlook any potential storm as a result of how devastating Sandy was," Pascone said.

Indeed, Sandy seems to have been a major wake-up call, one that has made at least one Sea Gate homeowner a bit more resiliant. 

"I took my beating, but we were lucky. But I've been hit with so many storms, I know how to be somewhat storm-proof," Spanakos said.

Managers hope to reopen the beach club next weekend, trying to recover what they lost this Labor Day weekend.