The small town of Steinhatchee, Florida, was left in ruins as Hurricane Helene unleashed its fury on the Gulf Coast, with 140 mph winds and 10-foot waves.
The Category 4 storm's wrath was so severe that it virtually erased the town from existence. The residents, who had evacuated in time, returned to find their homes and businesses obliterated. "It's heartbreaking," expressed Donna Landon, a local resident who lost her mobile home entirely, in an interview with the New York Post.
According to The Post Millennial, the storm's aftermath was surveyed on Friday in Steinhatchee, located approximately 90 miles southeast of Tallahassee, the state capital. The devastation was widespread, with few structures escaping the hurricane's wrath. Those that did survive were heavily damaged. The storm's human toll was equally devastating, with at least 45 fatalities reported. "I don't think there's anyone who hasn't been touched by this," Landon reflected. Despite the devastation, the community's spirit remained unbroken. Power workers from four neighboring states arrived to help restore the electricity grid. However, the task is monumental. "It's going to take weeks to fix it," Russ Rhodes, a local resident, cautioned, observing a shattered power pole. "We're basically going to have to start from scratch."
Among the businesses destroyed was Roy's Restaurant, a local establishment that had only reopened nine months prior after being hit by Hurricane Idalia in 2023. The restaurant's manager assured in a Facebook Live broadcast, "Our employees are safe. The restaurant didn't fare as well. But that's all right. We're thinking of our community and our employees, and everyone who is affected out there. We love them."
Despite the double blow, the restaurant's owner, Linda Wicker, is determined to rebuild. "I think we need to do that," Wicker told the Palm Beach Post, acknowledging that 30 of her employees are now jobless. While she has insurance, it won't cover all the losses.
Nancy Belleville, an 80-year-old lifelong Florida resident, shared her perspective with the Post. "My entire life, and it's never been this bad. But I'm still alive and everyone I love is still alive, so I'm grateful to God for sparing us." This sentiment echoes the resilience of the Steinhatchee community, who, despite the catastrophic damage, remain hopeful and united in the face of adversity.
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