Two hurricanes destroy nearly half of homes in Horseshoe Beach

Horseshoe Beach, a quaint seaside town in Dixie County, is no stranger to storm surge and high-speed winds. Residents know the sound of fast flowing water and rain. They are experienced people when dealing with hurricanes.

But according to Mayor Jeff Williams, Hurricane Helene was “the worst storm we’ve ever had in history.”

Florida was attacked by Debby, Helene and Milton this year. Horseshoe Beach was still recovering Hurricane IdaliaThe hurricane occurred in August 2023, when Helene made landfall near Perry as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Weather Channel Helene’s peak storm surge was estimated to be more than 15 feet in the Big Bend region.

More than a month later, Horseshoe Beach is still struggling. Concrete blocks and piles of garbage clutter the community waiting to be removed. Very few houses remained unscathed.

Williams said Helene will cost the community about 100 homes, including some that have yet to be “substantially damaged and declared beyond repair.”

This doesn’t count the homes Idalia destroyed last year.

“Idalia, we lost 75 houses. As for Helene, we’re close to 100,” Williams said. So far, he said, the community has lost about 175 of the 365 homes between Helene and Idalia.

Williams said he was in Cross City when Hurricane Helene hit, but not before making sure everyone who wanted to get out of Horseshoe Beach could do so.

“We had emergency meetings before the storm,” he said. “We went door to door, making sure we talked to everyone and got them out. And there were only a few stragglers, but they dug in and stayed.

Fortunately, Williams said, no one in their community was killed in the storm.

“When you’ve been here for more than a few years, you get to know everyone,” Williams said. “And as you drive down the road, you see people you’ve known for years and are very close friends with, and you see their homes destroyed.”

The city council suffered a blow with the loss of the city hall. According to Williams, the concrete building had recently been renovated and repaired when Helene arrived and demolished it.

“We had finished this maybe a week ago, then Helene came and when we came back there was nothing here,” Williams said. “Just a pile of rubble. “We don’t even know where the roof is.”

The mayor is currently at 18 Fifth Ave. He is working out of a temporary unit located just above the tiled floor of the old town hall at E.

Williams said they also lost all the businesses in town — restaurants, vacation rentals, real estate agencies, fishing charters, shrimping operations and more.

Gordon and Chris Laney, 110 Main St. Operates Sunset Seafood Bar & Grill at. Chris Laney said the restaurant bar was not open long before Helene arrived ashore.

“We had only been open three weeks and the storm came and destroyed everything,” he said. He said the storm destroyed glass windows, some doors, a walk-in cooler and air conditioning units.

Laney said Helene also destroyed their home.

“We stayed at the Debby’s in August and it looked pretty bad,” he said. “It was bad enough that I told my husband that I absolutely did not want to quit this trip. We also chose to leave, but we could not remove our furniture from our house. We lost them all.”

Despite this loss, Laney said they “decided to make the most of the space.” The couple uses the restaurant building to distribute food to the community.

“We tried to salvage as much food as we could before the storm hit so we could cook meals for the community,” Laney said. He said people in the community donated so they could continue to buy food to cook and continue to pay their employees.

Williams said community members, friends and family are doing most of the work in terms of recovery.

“They come and help,” he said. “They help their friends and family clean up their yards and make repairs, and they do it with a good heart.”

Williams said Horseshoe Beach has received support from local politicians, whom he described as very proactive. U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack and Sen. Rick Scott were among those Williams said were “very pleased.”

“And if we call them, they answer,” he said. “And if I need something, they find a way to get it for me.”

The mayor also said Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Division of Emergency Management workers were clearing debris from the community and drains.

But Williams said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was not active at Horseshoe Beach after Helene.

“For storm Idalia, FEMA was here the day after the storm,” Williams said. “FEMA workers were walking around with iPads begging citizens to fill out the application. They didn’t say, ‘Here’s a link.’ Go here.’ “They did this for them.”

But after Helene, Williams said FEMA “didn’t exist.”

“They certainly haven’t come here and helped people apply, and people are really unhappy with FEMA right now,” Williams said.

Jack Pagano, FEMA media relations specialist, said agency representatives surveyed the area after the storm. To date, FEMA has distributed more than $502 million in aid across Florida, but did not say how much went to Dixie County residents.

Those still interested in applying for federal aid can visit 841 SE Highway 349 in Old Town. FEMA aid does not cover damage to businesses or second homes.

However, Chris Laney said he hoped the state government would do more to help.

“You know, as a business owner, it seems like the extent of the devastation is that the government could help with funding to help us get back on our feet. You know?” Laney said. “I mean, small businesses are what got this country where it is.”

Either way, both Williams and Laney emphasized that Horseshoe Beach needs hope in the days ahead.

“We’re taking it day by day,” Laney said, “and we’re praying and hoping that God somewhere, somehow, will open the doors to make this right.”

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