Three powerful hurricanes have relentlessly struck Florida's Big Bend region. The path to recovery remains an arduous task.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a catastrophic storm that hit Florida's Big Bend region in 2024, Taylor County finds itself in a challenging recovery process. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plays a significant role in the aid distribution, with the focus on measuring damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Several organizations, including churches, human rights groups, and social welfare organisations, have joined forces in Taylor County to support the rebuilding efforts. These groups provide reconstruction assistance and social support to the affected residents. The Taylor County Strong Long Term Recovery Group, established after Hurricane Idalia, meets every other week to track progress case by case and help residents when insurance payouts fall short or claims are denied.
However, the recovery process is not balanced across urban and rural areas. Urban counties receive more attention and federal dollars due to having more people, more documented damage, more staff to navigate the process, and a better chance at federal dollars. This disparity is evident in Taylor County, where the storm erased $3 million from the county's tax base, as stated by Danny Glover, who took over after Hurricane Helene.
Residents like Jessica Downey, a resident of Steinhatchee, and Jared Hunt, a resident of Keaton Beach in Taylor County, are facing significant challenges. Downey is living in a camper due to delays in insurance paperwork and federal inspections, while the Hunts are fighting insurance on two fronts: rebuilding their home on the beach and redoing their business, Keaton Beach Bums, which the county says must be on 17-foot stilts due to new codes.
The emergency management office in Taylor County is down to one person, and the county generated about $31 million in property taxes in 2024, a stark contrast to Pinellas County, which faced similar storm damage but collected $2.4 billion during the same period.
However, there are signs of progress. Since January 1, the county and its partners have completed work for 35 survivors - 20 from Idalia and 15 from Helene - valued at almost $245,000 in repairs and temporary housing. The general store and gas station, operating under tents, are the only ones for miles in the affected area.
In January, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced nearly $12 billion in disaster recovery grants, with Florida receiving $925 million for recovery from hurricanes Idalia, Helene, and Milton. However, rural counties like Taylor must wait for the state to divide its share of the funding.
Ricardo Rosario of the Red Cross urged the group to think ahead, calling for more nonprofits to come together and pool resources for the county before the next storm. The general sentiment is one of resilience and determination, as the community works together to rebuild and recover.
As the recovery process continues, residents and local governments in the 47 identified counties can apply for help from these programs. Most of the funds will be split between two Rebuild Florida programs, one for repairing personal homes and one for public infrastructure. Both programs are still in the pre-application stage, offering hope for a brighter future for Taylor County and its residents.
