In the quaint fishing village of Horseshoe Beach, Florida, positioned along the Gulf Coast’s Big Bend region, the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia brought not only destruction, but a criminal element as well. Two individuals have been apprehended and charged for looting a residence battered by the storm, escalating fears among the community that other hurricane-wrecked homes may be vulnerable to such attacks, particularly since law enforcement resources are currently stretched thin across the remote and wooded region.
The residents of Horseshoe Beach, one of the areas most severely affected by Idalia’s Category 3 fury, have petitioned law enforcement for the establishment of checkpoints demanding identification from those attempting to enter the town in an effort to thwart potential looters.
Kerry Ford, a marina worker and local resident, expressed admiration for the efforts of law enforcement in the face of the hurricane’s aftermath, but implored for greater action to protect the area. Ford indicated a troubling lack of identity verification for those entering the region in a time when power outages merely augment the vulnerability. “There needs to be a presence here exclusively for the protection of the residents,” Ford implored.
In a disconcerting incident, a male and female from Palmetto, Florida, located nearly 200 miles south of Idalia’s landfall, were taken into custody Wednesday. A Fish and Wildlife Conservation official from Florida became suspicious upon hearing unusual sounds emanating from a Horseshoe Beach property. Subsequent investigation revealed the duo loading property from the residential stilt house into a rental truck under the pretense of permission from the homeowner. After contacting the homeowners, however, no such consent was confirmed, resulting in the duo’s arrest. Each perpetrator now faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling during an emergency, grand theft, and trespassing, with their bail set at $1 million each.
The local sheriff’s office stated their firm intent to deliver stringent repercussions for such criminal acts that exploit the region’s current state of emergency.
On Saturday, it was reported that over 61,000 Florida residents and 8,700 Georgia residents were still without power due to Hurricane Idalia. President Joe Biden and the First Lady, Jill Biden, visited Florida the same day to inspect the havoc wreaked by the hurricane.
The storm, characterised by winds of 125 miles per hour and a six-foot storm surge, made landfall near Keaton Beach on Wednesday. It subsequently tore through Florida’s rural heartland and southern Georgia before heading towards the Carolinas, leaving turmoil in its wake. Remarkably though, a portion of old Florida escaped the extensive coastal development that the storm caused.
Tammy Bryan, an employee of the local First Freewill Baptist Church, offered an interesting proposition for potential looters. “If you’re going to loot, stop and help somebody. Help clear out some of the debris, perhaps, and then continue with your ill deeds, if you must. Nonetheless, we desperately need reinforcement here,” she said, reflecting the heightened need for support and security in the beleaguered town of Horseshoe Beach.
