See Big Bends towns hit by storms within year

Three hurricanes in a little over a year. Will Florida’s Big Bend finally catch a break?

Since Hurricane Idalia swept through the year in August 2023, residents located within Taylor County have seen extensive amounts of damage in their towns from multiple hurricanes.

In a special update from the National Hurricane Center, they shared that Hurricane Helene made landfall just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River close to midnight on Thursday. It hit as a powerful Category 4 storm seeing life-threatening storm surge of between 10 and 20 feet over ground level was forecast for the area and rainfall is expected to be 6 to 12 inches with isolated totals of around 20 inches.

What is Florida’s Big Bend region?

Florida’s “Big Bend” is in the curve of Florida’s peninsula around the Gulf of Mexico and includes Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie and Levy counties.

The area “offers some of Florida’s best wilderness destinations. The Big Bend is a lush blend of salt marshes, tidal swamps, deep woodlands and an occasional slice of sandy beach,” according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Perry: Here’s where Hurricane Helene made landfall

Perry is located within Taylor County, the only incorporated city in the Florida county according to the town’s website. It was incorporated in 1903 and adopted its City Charter on May 12, 1981. Its population as of 2010 was estimated to be 7,017.

Named after Florida’s fourth governor Madison Stark Perry, the town is “proudly recognized as the Tree Capital of the South” and hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, including the “World’s Largest Free Fish Fry.” 

Helene made landfall in the town at 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane. As of now, the storm surge, destructive winds and flash flooding have caused extensive damage to the region.

Rough distance from major Florida cities:

• Tallahassee – 50 miles
• Miami – 416 miles
• Orlando – 172 miles
• Tampa – 164 miles
• Jacksonville – 116 miles
• Pensacola – 218 miles

Celebrity from Perry, FL:Who is singer Ethel Cain?

Steinhatchee: Here’s where Hurricane Debby made landfall

Steinhatchee is found in Taylor County, roughly 70 miles west of Gainesville. It has a population of 514 and is known as a rural fishing village on the Gulf of Mexico that Visit Florida calls “The Best-Kept Secret in Florida.”

Hurricane Debby made landfall last month on Aug. 5 as a Category 1 with 80 mph winds, in or near Steinhatchee. According to NOAA, residents saw significant storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast at up to 10 feet and lead to severe damage to the region.

Rough distance from major Florida cities:

• Tallahassee – 76 miles
• Miami – 332 miles
• Orlando – 144 miles
• Tampa – 131 miles
• Jacksonville – 112 miles
• Pensacola – 236 miles

Keaton Beach: Here’s where Hurricane Idalia made landfall

Keaton Beach is on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the southern part of Taylor County. It has a population of 13,032 as reported by the 2021 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keaton Beach is Taylor County’s main beach area, with a local pier, the county’s primary boat ramp, and a children’s play area called Hodges Park. Mostly it’s probably known for fishing and scallops.

Hurricane Idalia rammed into Keaton Beach on 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph. According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the storm’s estimated damage was $3.6 billion, mostly within the Big Bend.

Distance from major Florida cities:

• Tallahassee – 59 miles
• Miami – 349 miles
• Orlando – 161 miles
• Tampa – 147 miles
• Jacksonville – 121 miles
• Pensacola – 220 miles

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