The small town of Steinhatchee on Florida's Gulf Coast is in ruins after Hurricane Helene brought winds of up to 140 miles per hour and a storm surge of 10 feet earlier this week. Most of the city's 500 residents were evacuated before the storm, only to return to a scene of devastation.
“It's heartbreaking. We have been wiped off the map. There's nothing left. I have insurance, but now I have to rebuild,” Donna Landon told The New York Post. Ms. Landon's mobile home on the outskirts of Steinhatchee was destroyed.
Few buildings remain in the city, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Tallahassee, the state capital. Buildings that survived were severely damaged, making recovery an uphill battle for the close-knit community. “I don't think there's anyone who hasn't been touched by this. But this is a community where everyone looks out for each other,” Ms. Landon added.
On Friday, electricians from neighboring states arrived in Steinhatchee, where they were working to repair the city's electrical grid. However, the restoration of electricity supply is expected to take quite some time. “It will take weeks to fix it. We will have to start all over again,” said Russ Rhodes, part of a team working to replace a broken power line.
One of the city's most beloved establishments, Roy's Restaurant, located along the Steinhatchee River, was wiped out by the hurricane. The restaurant reopened nine months ago after extensive damage from Hurricane Idalia. “Our employees are safe. The restaurant wasn't doing so well. But that's okay. We are thinking of our community, our employees and everyone affected by this. We love them,” the manager said in a Facebook Live message.
Despite the overwhelming loss, Roy's owner, Linda Wicker, has vowed to rebuild the 55-year-old restaurant. “I think we should do that,” Wicker told the Palm Beach Post. Although insurance will cover some of the damage, Wicker noted, “It's never enough,” as she considered the future of her company and its 30 employees.
Steinhatchee is just one of many coastal communities in Florida dealing with the severe impacts of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that claimed at least 45 lives on September 28.
In the nearby city of Perry, about 7,000 residents assessed the devastation, The New York Post reported. Roads are blocked by fallen trees, electricity poles have been snapped in half and many buildings have lost their roofs. The city is currently without electricity or running water, further complicating recovery efforts.
“I've been in Florida all my life. All my life, and it's never been this bad. But I'm alive and everyone I love is alive, so I'm grateful to God for sparing us,” the New York Post quoted 80-year-old Perry resident Nancy Belleville as saying.