Most of the homes destroyed in 2024 by Hurricane Helene in Taylor County, Florida, still have not been rebuilt, underscoring how incomplete the recovery remains in one of the storm's hardest-hit areas.
That sobering update came from Taylor County's emergency management director, Danny Glover, who said the community is still working through the storm's aftermath, as WCTV reported.
Here's what to know
Glover described the county's beach communities as scenes of overwhelming devastation when residents returned after the storm.
"It just looked like a bomb had went off," he told WCTV, recalling how residents returned to find that "they one day had their home and the next day come back, and there's just nothing there."
Glover said roughly 85% of homes there were destroyed in the storm, and only 10% to 20% have since been rebuilt. As a result, many families are still dealing with incomplete repairs and financial hardship.
What's being done?
Help has continued well beyond the immediate disaster response, with the county's long-term recovery group still assisting residents. Glover explained to WCTV that "one thing that's been critical for us is our long-term recovery group. Two years later, they're still having people come in whose homes still have leaky roofs or still need a lot of help. They're struggling financially, and so the long-term recovery group has been able to help so many people."
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At the same time, as families continue to recover after Helene, county officials are also preparing for future storms. Glover said they are reviewing how to respond more quickly and communicate more effectively with residents during disasters.
Where can I learn more?
For more on the long recovery from Helene, these stories explore the housing, insurance, and resilience challenges Florida still faces.
• Across Florida, an insurance crisis for millions could deepen the hardship Helene left behind.
• Far inland, Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, showing how wide the disaster spread.
• Along Florida's coast, hurricane-proof home designs are shaping how some residents rebuild.
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