Our hearts ache for the thousands of Floridians who lost their homes and businesses last night. Hurricane Helene just brushed by the Tampa Bay region with an 8-foot storm surge, but it slammed the Big Bend region with an estimated 20-foot surge and 140-mph winds. I’m sure we’ll learn more as the sun comes up. Hopefully most people complied with mandatory evacuation orders, and they are safe.
Roofs on several of the outbuildings appear to have blown away, and I’m pretty sure all of the seeds still ripening on our trees are gone, but our families, homes and pets are all fine — and we greatly appreciate all the emails checking in on us.