Residents in Florida’s Big Bend region are grappling with the aftermath of three hurricanes in just 13 months, leaving many without homes and emotionally drained. This relentless sequence of storms has forced them to face unimaginable losses.
Brooke Hiers, for example, recently left a FEMA trailer that provided temporary shelter after Hurricane Idalia hit Horseshoe Beach in August 2023. In the wake of Hurricane Helen, her newly renovated home is now swept off its elevated foundation and into her neighbor’s yard. “You think it can’t possibly happen again,” Hiers shared. “But I don’t know if anyone has experienced something like this since the hurricanes began.”
In the past year, the Big Bend area has endured three direct hits from hurricanes—Idalia, followed by Hurricane Debby, and most recently Hurricane Helen. Hiers reflected, “I’ve tried to describe it using words like catastrophic, devastating, heartbreaking, but none of those truly capture what it’s like here.”
These repeated storms have compelled residents to reconsider the true cost of living in a hurricane-prone region. Researchers have sounded alarms about climate change intensifying storm activity.
Like many in the community, even those with homeowners insurance find it prohibitively expensive to insure properties in flood-prone areas. Residents are left with few viable options: abandon their family homes, spend thousands elevating houses on stilts, or relocate to campers that can be moved to safety. Sadly, many cannot afford any of these alternatives. Following the storms, numerous residents have relied on family and friends for shelter, slept in their cars, or huddled in the wreckage of their homes.
Janalea England, who established a donation website for hurricane victims, voiced her frustrations with government agencies and insurance companies. “I’ve lost faith in them,” she admitted. “FEMA hasn’t done anything. After losing everything to Idalia, people were just told they could take out loans. I want to know where our tax dollars are going.”
Hurricane Idalia completely destroyed Dave Beamer’s old home in Steinhatchee. He rebuilt soon after, but his new structure was washed away again within a year. “I don’t think I can keep going,” Beamer lamented. “Everyone’s perspective on how to live here has changed.”
As for Hiers, she and her husband are considering purchasing an RV to park on the site of their former home. However, they’ve decided not to return to Horseshoe Beach until after hurricane season, as they cannot bear another hit.
