In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the community of Keaton Beach, Florida is facing a long road to recovery. The small, close-knit town has been left reeling from the destruction caused by the powerful storm.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Keaton Beach is the collapse of the beloved Beach Bums gas station. Owner Jared Hunt, who was just days away from celebrating the five-year anniversary of the establishment, is now focused on helping residents salvage what little remains of their belongings.
Residents like Eric Church and his wife are grappling with the sudden loss of their home. Church expressed his disbelief, stating, 'My house is laying here in a pile. It was sitting right there. There are just pillars left in the ground. I got a wife and two dogs with me. What am I supposed to do?'
Church's wife, Erin Peelar, shared their devastation at the unexpected destruction of their recently purchased home. The couple had hoped to create a future in the house, which had stood for 75 years prior to being ravaged by the hurricane.
The extent of the damage is evident as Peelar recounted, 'There were six, seven, eight homes in front of us – they're all gone.' The couple considers themselves fortunate to have evacuated, recognizing that staying behind would have been perilous.
The resilience of the Keaton Beach community is now being put to the test as they come together to support one another and begin the process of rebuilding their lives in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation.
