John Teasley, left, and Tyler Mitchell of Tallahassee help pass out cases of water in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Perry, the seat of Taylor County, felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
PERRY — The county seat of Taylor County felt the full force of Hurricane Idalia as it ravaged the Big Bend of Florida. Residents lost personal possessions, roofs and countless trees.
But in the tight-knit city of about 7,000, at least the people of Perry have each other.
“We lost everything,” said Jean Padgett, whose father-in-law is Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett. “In this community, we’re all out here together. You can’t beat Taylor County.”
Downed trees and power lines can be seen heading into Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Before returning to salvage what she could from her home, Padgett did what good neighbors do. She stopped to help her brother pass out water donated by ABC Supply Co. of Tallahassee. While handing out water and cans of gasoline, a stranger stopped to unload his car full of additional water cases.
That was just one small act of kindness witnessed just a day after Taylor County faced the most powerful storm to hit the region in more than a century.
A pair of trees fell onto the roof of a home in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Idalia, with 125 mph winds, came ashore early Wednesday about 20 miles south of Perry near Keaton Beach. The western eyewall of the storm passed directly over the town.
On Thursday afternoon in downtown Perry, volunteers donated hotdogs and hamburgers while crews got to work clearing trees blocking many neighborhood roads, creating a challenging maze to navigate.
Pastor Tony O. Graham hands out bags of ice along with Rebecca Baker, a volunteer with Cajun Navy from Louisiana, in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Outside of the First Assembly of God Church, cars lined up to receive boxes of food, water, ice and other essential goods.
Convoys of utility trucks hauled linemen and poles through town to restore power, while neighbors spotted each other in traffic and shouted across the street, “Are you all OK?”
“When the chips are down, the people of Perry and Taylor County really come together. There are a lot of people hurting, a lot of people have a lot to deal with,” said Pastor Tony O. Graham, who leads the congregation at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. “We’re resilient. We’re going to stay the course, and we’re all going to make it together.”
Sea Hag Marina workers and squeegee off several inches of thick black mud brought by Hurricane Idalia in Steinhatchee, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The marina also suffered wind and flooding damage to the restaurant. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Workers toss debris from the roof of Steamers Clam Bar and Grille as they clean up Hurricane Idalia destruction in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Construction loader filled with debris from Hurricane Idalia cleanup and golf cart driver wave as they bring back their town in Steinhatchee, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Hurricane strength winds from Hurricane Idalia knocked over the Marathon gas station island in Steinhatchee, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Workers remove debris from Steamers Clam Bar and Grille as they clean up after Hurricane Idalia destruction in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Sea Hag Marina worker hoses off several inches of thick black mud deposited by Hurricane Idalia in Steinhatchee, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The marina also suffered wind and flooding damage to the restaurant. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Construction loader dumps Hurricane Idalia debris in a ditch on 1st Street as they clean up in Steinhatchee Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
“I’m taking this bible home with me.” said Beach Front Hotel Property Manager, Jon Tompkins holding a wet soiled Bible open to the Book of Joshua in his hands in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Tompkins found the Bible left opened by a guest before the storm and found it open to the same page after the storm. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
“I’m taking this bible home with me.” said Beach Front Hotel Property Manager, Jon Tompkins holding a wet soiled Bible open to the Book of Joshua in his hands in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Tompkins found the Bible left opened by a guest before the storm and found it open to the same page after the storm. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Beach Front Hotel employees look through the debris left by Hurricane Idalia storm in their parking lot in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The picturesque pastel colored hotel was ravaged by flood waters and high wind damage. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Beach Front Hotel, room facing the gulf was destroyed by Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The picturesque pastel colored hotel was ravaged by flood waters and high wind damage. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Debris lined streets are the new norm as they clean up after the flooding and high winds from Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Debris lined streets are the new norm as they clean up after the flooding and high winds from Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
The Shell gas station just south of Perry, Fla., has a line of cars backed up onto the road on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Pastor Tony O. Graham hands out bags of ice along with Rebecca Baker, a volunteer with Cajun Navy from Louisiana, in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
A pair of trees fell onto the roof of a home in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
A metal structure is scattered in a parking lot in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Members of the U.S. Air Force work on clearing trees from roadways in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Utility trucks haul telephone poles through Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Dan Wilson, right, owner of Betterway Claim Adjusters, works with David Rodriguez, center, to hand out hotdogs and hamburgers to residents in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
John Teasley, left, and Tyler Mitchell of Tallahassee help pass out cases of water in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Perry, the seat of Taylor County, felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Deacon Freddie Richet stands outside the 1950s home that once belonged to his parents in Taylor County on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The county felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Deacon Carl Williams stands outside of his home in Perry, Fla., surrounded by tree debris on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Volunteers hand out boxes of food and water in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Downed trees and power lines can be seen heading into Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
A pine tree fell across West Bay Street in Perry, Fla., seen on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
1 of 26
Sea Hag Marina workers and squeegee off several inches of thick black mud brought by Hurricane Idalia in Steinhatchee, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The marina also suffered wind and flooding damage to the restaurant. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
In a county that prides itself on its pine industry and forested land totaling more than 500,000 acres, falling trees did the most damage to power lines and property. While many roofs were mostly unscathed, formidable oaks and pines slammed onto houses and across streets.
“You never expect ground zero to be where you live,” said Jessica Archer, whose family roots in Perry date back to the 1800s. “Seeing these 80-foot pine trees just snapped in half is shocking … We watched trees get pulled up out of the ground in our neighbor’s yard.”
Deacon Freddie Richet stands outside the 1950s home that once belonged to his parents in Taylor County on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The county felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Deacon Freddie Richet, 80, lives in a house built in the 1950s that once belonged to his parents. He considered weathering the storm at home before evacuating to be with family in Albany, Georgia, about 120 miles north.
“I bought this property here and I moved the house over here in 2005. I was born and raised right across the road there,” he said. “I was going to stay here but I told myself, ‘Don’t be hard-headed.’”
Richet returned to find part of his home’s original tin roof sheared off and sitting in the yard. Despite that, he’s grateful.
“It could have been a whole lot worse,” he said. “I try not to worry about something I can’t do nothing about. I can do something about this.”
Dan Wilson, right, owner of Betterway Claim Adjusters, works with David Rodriguez, center, to hand out hotdogs and hamburgers to residents in Perry, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
He’s just one of many Perry residents picking up the pieces. Many in the county are without power and in Perry, even some traffic lights were operating on generator power.
On Thursday morning, the gas station lines for adjacent Shell and Arco stations were backed up onto the road.
The Shell gas station just south of Perry, Fla., has a line of cars backed up onto the road on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Gregg Strevel, who’s lived in Perry for about 50 years, filled up his generator before heading home.
“This is the first storm I’ve seen like this,” he said. “It’s going to take a while. We’re getting it all put back together.”
Deacon Carl Williams stands outside of his home in Perry, Fla., surrounded by tree debris on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Taylor County felt the full impacts of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall near Category 4 strength on Wednesday morning. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Deacon Carl Williams, 77, who works with Graham in the Baptist church, rode out the storm in Tallahassee with his wife and returned to find downed trees on both sides of his house. Luckily, his roof was spared.
“I was glad to see my house is still here,” Williams said. “I thank the Lord. I can get another house, but I can’t get another me.”
