In Idalia's path: Big Bend Florida coastal dwellers stare down a hurricane
STEINHATCHEE ― With the sun beaming down and a gentle breeze blowing at the coast south of Tallahassee, residents spent Monday preparing for Hurricane Idalia and the devastation it could potentially unleash.
As Idalia, which is forecast to become a major hurricane, keeps trudging north, residents are hoping it will spare their sleepy coastal towns as memories of past destruction flash through their minds.
In Steinhatchee, a small fishing village in southern Taylor County, residents recalled what happened when Hurricane Hermine passed to its west in 2016. In the middle of the night, local marina owners and dockhands had to orchestrate a boat roundup as customers' vessels began to float off the racks and down the streets from the flooding.
"We weren't preparing for a really bad hurricane to hit at that time," said Chase Norwood, a charter captain at the town's famous Sea Hag Marina. "It happened like a flash."
Steinhatchee braces for a possible 11-foot surge
Norwood's family, which owns the marina, lost thousands of dollars in merchandise as waters reached waist-high levels inside their store. Ever since then, they approach each storm the same by moving everything off the ground to the second floor and switching boats in dry dock from the top racks to a more secure area.
Fred Mitchell, who is 90 years old and has lived in Steinhatchee his whole life, said he plans to ride out the storm like he always has before. No stranger to hurricanes or the bay's severe flooding, Mitchell wasn't too worried about Idalia yet.
For years, he has lived on the same water-front property, where he has watched dozens of hurricanes and tropical storms roll through. A 1993 storm flooded his original home, completely destroying everything he owned, from cars to furniture.
The community has been through so many natural disasters, he said, most people simply hunker down and help one another with clean up after the storm passes.
"It could be bad ― it could be an 11-foot surge," said Jeff Tucker, a Steinhatchee resident. "We can handle 60, 75 mph winds. Me myself, I don't know if I'm going to stick around if it gets to 125."
Forecast: Idalia: A storm without precedent, Hurricane will bring catastrophic surge to Florida coast
If Idalia proves too intense, Tucker said he plans to evacuate to a friend's place in Pensacola.
The Taylor County Sheriff's Office issued a mandatory evacuation Monday afternoon for all coastal residents and people in mobile homes, travel trailers and sub-standard housing, according to a social media post from the county's division of emergency management.
"All Taylor County residents must be aware that once sustained winds reach 45 mph first responders will not be able to respond to assist you until the event is over," TCSO said.
The county is not offering an evacuation shelter, so officials are encouraging residents to find shelter elsewhere because the tropical storm is projected to strengthen to a Category Three hurricane.
Wakulla residents resolved even as county warns of no shelters
Wakulla County issued a voluntary evacuation for coastal residents and people in low-lying or mobile homes. The county, which also isn't opening shelters, suggested evacuees seek safety in Tallahassee, which is opening four shelters.
"The facilities in Wakulla County which are used for shelters are not rated to withstand the potential effects of a category 3 storm," WCSO said in a Facebook post. "Simply put it is potentially unsafe for Wakulla County shelters to be utilized."
A number of St. Marks residents said they're planning to ride the storm out in their homes. David Keliiheleua is taking preparatory steps like moving his boat out of the water.
"I don't think it's going to be as bad," he said. "We're just taking precautions because right now it's still further south and would hate to take the chance."
As of Monday evening, the latest National Hurricane Center forecasts projected as much as 8 to 12 feet of storm surge for both Wakulla and Taylor counties.
In St. Marks, Janice and Chris Hawkins were worried about losing their home ― a boat in a slip on the St. Marks River ― though they were making sure to tie it down properly. The couple has lived on their boat for years and escaped major hurricanes like Michael. With Idalia on its way, the couple plans to head to Georgia and stay with their daughter through the worst of the storm.
For John Hines, the owner of the Sweet Magnolia Inn, this will be his first time experiencing a major storm. Hines, originally from Ohio, took over the inn in 2019. He said he wasn't too concerned about major damage. But just in case, he spent Monday putting sandbags around the outside of the building.
Rani Richardson, the owner of St. Marks grocery store Bo Lynn's, is planning to bring in everything from outside and raise whatever is on ground of her store a few feet. The building, like many places in St. Marks, is prone to storm surge flooding and has been hit by other big storms, including Michael.
"Other than that, we kind of just prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Richardson said. "I have comfort knowing that the building has lasted through so many storms."
Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on Twitter @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: In Idalia's path: Big Bend Florida residents stare down a hurricane
