STEINHATCHEE, Florida – The small town of Steinhatchee, nestled along Florida’s Big Bend coast, is grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which unleashed devastating flooding and destruction. Scott Peters, owner of Crabbie Dad’s bar, has witnessed his establishment— a staple of the community for nearly 20 years—face its most significant challenge yet.
Peters has weathered numerous storms over the years, often celebrating them with hurricane parties alongside locals. However, the devastation wrought by Hurricane Hermine in 2016 shifted perspectives, leading residents to take storm preparedness more seriously.
“We’re basically at sea level,” Peters remarked in a phone call on Friday, as sheriff’s deputies restricted access to the town. He was in Gainesville, about 70 miles away, when Helene struck and was anxious to assess the extent of the damage to his bar and home.
Photos and videos sent by friends revealed a scene of utter destruction. “It’s total devastation,” he said. “I’ve got to start completely over.”
The storm surge from Helene pushed an estimated 10-foot wall of water into Steinhatchee’s low-lying areas, including Peters’ bar. The iconic sign is gone, and remnants of dollar bills that once adorned the rafters have been left to flutter in the wind. The once-vibrant peach-colored walls have been stripped away, leaving behind only concrete steps and a partially collapsed tiled floor.
“This is overwhelming,” commented resident Jamie Lee as she surveyed the wreckage. “I don’t think it’s sunk in.”
In anticipation of the storm, Peters and his staff had hastily relocated beer coolers and liquor bottles to higher ground. “The thing’s coming so damn fast we didn’t have time to prepare much,” he reflected before the storm. They managed to salvage whatever items they could, learning from past experiences to take every storm seriously in such a vulnerable area.
Last Friday, stunned residents navigated muddy streets or drove golf carts and pickups through the debris, while a Coast Guard helicopter hovered overhead. The storm left a thick mat of sea grass covering some neighborhoods and displaced docks and boats across Riverside Drive.
Pamela Keen, 62, stood on her deck, eyeing the chaos around her. “We’ve got somebody’s freezer in the yard,” she said, gesturing to scattered items—including shrimp, green peppers, and soda cans—buried in the sea grass. Keen and her husband, Gary, had sheltered in a nearby motel during the storm and felt fortunate to find a room, despite its roach infestation.
“It was infested with roaches, but I’m thankful we had a room,” she joked.
John Kujawski, a retiree exploring the damage with his wife, pointed out remnants of past storms, including the devastation from Hurricane Idalia just last summer. After nearly two decades of visiting Steinhatchee, Kujawski had recently made the town his permanent home, charmed by its sense of community.
As they maneuvered through the muddy streets, they identified destroyed guest houses, overturned boats, and new roofs that had been damaged again. Kujawski expressed sadness over the fate of Vargo’s Buffalo Style Pizza, which had recently opened. “They probably had only sold $200 worth of pizza,” he lamented. “This is awful.”
From Gainesville, Peters continued to grapple with the enormity of his losses, uncertain about the future of both his bar and his home. Engaged in scallop fishing, he hopes to rely on that income as he navigates the insurance claims process and considers accepting government assistance—a stark contrast to his previous refusals.
He plans to cancel utility bills promptly to avoid accumulating further costs. “I’m going to jump through all the hoops,” Peters asserted. “I don’t just want to take a huge loss and sell a blank slate piece of property. I’m not one to give up that easy. But it all depends on the insurance.”
Regardless of the time it may take to rebuild, Peters is resolute. “Over the years, I’ll keep building on when I can afford it,” he stated. “At least I saved the liquor. But now I don’t have anywhere to put it.”
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