Report from Cedar Key
Getting a handle on the damage done to a small-boat paradise
As most of you know, the wonderful hamlet of Cedar Key—a small-town small-boat sailing mecca—was ravaged by a couple of hurricanes. We asked longtime SCA columnist and Cedar Key resident, Hugh Horton, to give us an update on the state of things there.—Eds
Article by Hugh Horton
Cedar Key was devastated. At four am September 27th, eight feet of water surged white caps through downtown, taking homes, the fine mechanic’s garage and The Market, our well-stocked little grocery. Many businesses haven’t come back and probably won’t. FEMA helped much, and their presence is still here, as of November 11th. The aquaculture clammers are hurt again; oystermen look for a growth rebound “in a year or so.”
The mini boat meet pre-Thanksgiving is nixed; the future of the TSCA’s May meet is unclear.
Although I want to sail now, this minute—mid May was the last time—effects of Helene and Milton say “no.” Clam Girl waits more patiently than I.
The beloved 2017 Focus tow car was a “total loss;” it had only 38 thousand miles and new Michelin CrossClimate rain tires. Insurance paid quickly, but instead of shopping and testing cars for months, a 2024 Escape (the last Focus was in 2022) was delivered two weeks after Milton. Its hitch, now a Class III rather than the Focus’s Class I, needs installing.
New boat Octo is fine. The surge came within inches of the underside of her strongback’s 2x12s. Whew! Everything still seems level, but I’ve not yet cleared around her enough for a thorough check.
Anything that could float tried to leave. The wind with current of the surge spread plywood and particle board scraps all over, along with debris from trees and ropey tangles of vegetation.
After Helene, Kristi and Simon Lewandowski drove up from St Pete to help, bringing cheer, drinking water, prepared food and groceries. A week later they came back, evacuating with their two cats before Milton. I always enjoy seeing them, even if chased around by hurricanes.
Had Karen been here for Helene, I think she'd have thought more clearly about the 4 am surge than I. And I might have avoided the grudge against myself for the loss of the Focus.
The Cedar Keys’ islands have downed trees and thinned vegetation. Sandbars have moved and been shoved onto islands. Oyster bars have been covered with muck or sand, or uncovered. But, Cedar Key is still a shallow water, sailing paradise.
Thank you to all who’ve wished the best for Cedar Key. ~HH •SCA•
Hugh describes the devastation very well and personally, having experienced it firsthand.
I’m becoming a resident of Cedar Key and have been there the past two weeks to see the most amazing transformation of destruction to rebound I have ever experienced.
I am so reminding of my shipwreck long ago and that feeling of ‘this is so weird’ seeing all our possessions sloshing around. The residents of cedar key are already past the ‘weird’ and hard at work restoring and rebuilding and digging their heels in stronger than before.
All of them say tell your friends to come. There are places to stay and restaurants and even a latte bar right by the art center (that survived).
Thought the sail meet was cancelled for November we still hold hope for May.
And for Clam Girl to set sail SOON.
What a shame. Have always wanted to visit Cedar Key. Hopefully a majority of the people who have been displaced will find a way to come back and it will return to some semblance of what was.