Flagler Beach, United States - September 28, 2024

Residents in Keaton Beach in Florida returned to a haunting void after Hurricane Helene rampaged the coastal U.S. community, reducing homes to rubbles.

Keaton Beach, nestled in Florida's Big Bend region, has suffered the wrath of the hurricane, which left at least 40 people killed and dozens of homes disappeared.

The category four storm reduced many houses to mere foundations, including the cherished two-story blue and white house where Ashlyn Pitts, a resident, shared precious memories with her grandmother.

"This was where our home was. This was where we lived full-time. It was a big two-story blue and white house," said Pitts.

"It's very devastating. We all grew up down here. My grandpa passed away, and all the memories we have are down here, and it's just so sad," said Mekailyn Schell, another resident.

Glenda Padgett, another resident, rebuilt her family home after Hurricane Hermine struck in 2016, only to face loss again.

"This one just took it. There's nothing left of it. I see my bed that I wish I had taken with me, a 2,000-dollar bed for my back. Honestly, there's just nothing here. I don't even know where to start. I've got my grandchildren living with me, and everything they had was here, and everything I had was here," said Padgett.

With her home gone, Glenda also lost her livelihood and the means to support her three grandchildren. The structure had two apartments downstairs that she would rent to local fishermen.

With her livelihood shattered and no insurance coverage to aid in rebuilding, Glenda faces an uncertain future.

"I love Keaton. I love it. I have no insurance. I couldn't afford it. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't rebuild. I don't have the money. Maybe I can clean this up and put in a camper, but I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I never thought this would happen," said Padgett.

"It's gone. Right down there on the left. Well, it was, but now it's just gone, with a lot of others," said Shannon Millinor, a resident.

As the community grapples with the harsh reality of their losses, the lack of insurance coverage exacerbates the crisis. As Millinor noted, residents with flood insurance may expect their insurance providers to try to withhold payouts for hurricane-induced damage.

"I don't know (if we'll rebuild). I don't know if we have the funds to do it. It depends on how the insurance works out," he said.

It was a grim day for the residents of Keaton Beach. They anticipated some damage but never imagined losing everything.

SHOTLIST:

Keaton Beach, Florida State, United States - Sept 28, 2024
1. Various of residents showing support to each other
2. Various of destroyed homes, rubble
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ashlyn Pitts, resident (ending with shots 4-5):
"This was where our home was. This was where we lived full-time. It was a big two-story blue and white house."
4. Picture of house before landfall of Hurricane Helene
5. House foundation
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mekailyn Schell, resident:
"It's very devastating. We all grew up down here. My grandpa passed away, and all the memories we have are down here, and it's just so sad."
7. Residents showing support to each other
8. Rubble
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Glenda Padgett, resident (partially overlaid with shot 10):
"This one just took it. There's nothing left of it. I see my bed that I wish I had taken with me, a 2,000-dollar bed for my back. Honestly, there's just nothing here. I don't even know where to start. I've got my grandchildren living with me, and everything they had was here, and everything I had was here."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
10. Various of rubble, resident checking on house foundation; left house item
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
11. Destroyed house item
12. Residents talking to reporter
13. Picture of house before landfall of Hurricane Helene
14. House foundation
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Glenda Padgett, resident (starting with shot 14/partially overlaid with shot 16/ending with shot 17):
"I love Keaton. I love it. I have no insurance. I couldn't afford it. I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't rebuild. I don't have the money. Maybe I can clean this up and put in a camper, but I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I never thought this would happen."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
16. Helicopter hovering
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
17. Various of tilted utility pole; vehicle clearing rubble; cloth on tree
18. SOUNDBITE (English) Shannon Millinor, resident:
"It's gone. Right down there on the left. Well, it was, but now it's just gone, with a lot of others."
19. Rubble-clearing vehicle running in community
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Shannon Millinor, resident (starting with shot 19) (with reporter asking question):
(Reporter: Did you have insurance?)
"Yeah, but there's flood insurance and regular insurance, and they're probably going to be bickering over what caused."
(Reporter: Would you rebuild?)
"I don't know. I don't know if we have the funds to do it. It depends on how the insurance works out."
21. Sheriff's vehicle running in community
22. Various of destroyed houses, rubble; sign showing "Keaton Beach" "Dead End"