When Hurricane Helene struck the Anna Maria Island communities on Sept. 26, 2024, it brought with it a storm surge and level of destruction that the area hasn’t witnessed since 1921 when the Tampa Bay/Tarpon Springs hurricane struck.
Back then the islands weren’t heavily populated, but Cortez, then a vibrant fishing village, was all but wiped out. The waterfront was devastated and fish houses, boats and docks destroyed. During that storm, residents took refuge in the brick Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse, which today houses the Florida Maritime Museum.
The museum, which is closed for repairs from the effects of Helene, displays artifacts, photographs, charts and personal stories from that event. Their digital collection includes “Caught in the Storm: 100 Years of Hurricanes in Florida,” which covers the 1921 storm. That collection will likely be updated to include Helene and Milton.
On Anna Maria Island, the anniversary of Hurricane Helene and Milton will take its place in history alongside the hurricane of 1921, but it will also highlight how people pulled together, all views and politics aside, to rise to the challenge.
AMI Outfitters on Pine Street in Anna Maria was one of the many business on the Island that suffered major damage. “It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the one-year anniversary of the hurricanes,” owners Dave and Jennifer Hagey said. “After being closed for 65 days to rebuild, we chose to view the damage as an opportunity to reset, just like the rest of the Island.
With incredible support from our community, we reopened and ended 2024 with our best year yet. From loyal customers showing up on Black Friday, to The Center of Anna Maria Island rallying volunteers, to Mayor Mark Short’s dedication, we were lifted by the people around us. A special thanks to Issa Homes for matching donations that helped small businesses like ours recover faster. Because of this support, we’re proud to celebrate our strongest year in 13 years of AMI Outfitters.”
Local fishing guide, resident and father Capt. Dave White was also negatively affected by the storms, but chooses to focus on his gratitude to others.
“A year later, reflecting on the impact of the storms, it’s very easy to be grateful for the placid September that we’ve had so far,” he said. “While the fishing was exceptional last fall, we had no clients calling to take advantage whatsoever. With the Island still in shambles, the outlook seemed very bleak at the time.
I created a discounted gift card opportunity for my repeat customers in order to generate revenue to pay my mortgage and help support my three little girls. This enabled me to get by until we had some tourist traffic in February and March. Some of us received a little economic boost from organizations like Suncoast Waterkeeper and the International Gamefish Association.
While many of us are still digging out from under the debt we slid into from the fall, we’re all hopeful for a busy spring season to climb back on top of the hill with a greater sense of accomplishment for overcoming the adversity of last year. It’s not a job that you can rest on your laurels and be frivolous about, financially. But I can’t see myself doing anything else!”
Many iconic structures like the Rod and Reel Pier, Annie’s Bait and Tackle and the Cortez net camp were lost to the storms, while others like the Anna Maria City Pier were heavily damaged, but it’s the sense of community and the way friends, neighbors and businesses pulled together to support each other that will remain as the lasting impression.
