Steinhatchee Struggles to Recover: Community Faces Devastation from Hurricane Helene After Previous Storm

Community Faces Devastation from Hurricane

Steinhatchee Residents Devastated by Hurricane Helene After Recent Storm Recovery

On Friday morning, Steinhatchee residents returned to find their coastal town in ruins after Hurricane Helene unleashed 140 mph winds. Just over a year after another storm, the tight-knit community of 500 faced flattened businesses, flooded homes, and impassable roads.

Susan Grant, 63, stood outside her home, which survived but was heavily flooded by the storm surge. She mourned the loss of Crabbie Dad's Bar & Grill, a beloved local landmark now reduced to rubble. “Every storm just keeps getting worse,” she lamented.

The storm has claimed at least 42 lives in the Southeast and left millions without power. In Steinhatchee, roads were buried in mud and debris, with many homes and docks swept away. Nearby, Gary Keen described his property as unrecognizable but felt grateful to still have a home.

Many residents are struggling with limited access to flood insurance, complicating recovery efforts. “You can hardly get flood insurance out here,” said Paul Nawlin, senior pastor at First Baptist Church Steinhatchee.

As the community copes with this latest disaster, the emotional toll is palpable. “It’s just devastating,” Grant said. “It’s sad to endure this much in one year.”

Steinhatchee Struggles to Recover: Community Faces Devastation from Hurricane Helene After Previous Storm