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Article 2
Florida Hurricanes
I continue to be asked how the hurricane has affected the nearby area I live in (Florida). Here is my answer.
Alligator Point is an isolated peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico in Northern Florida. Alligator Point is an unincorporated community in Franklin County Florida, about 45 miles south of Tallahassee. Some people call this area the Panhandle, but it's really the northwest corner of the "Big Bend" part of Florida. This is the least developed and least commercialized area in coastal Florida. Franklin County has about 50 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline and a population of only about 10,000.
We have all heard of the tragedies in New Orleans and Biloxi. But there are other little towns and Coastal Communities all along the Gulf Coast that suffered significant damage from recent hurricanes that you have not seen on the newsreels. In the area you are about to see a hurricane had hit 40-50 miles east near the Mobil Al area, which caused a10- 15ft tidal surge in this area along with tropical storm winds.
What you see in the picture was a restaurant on a river approximately a mile in from the coast line. Angelo's Seafood & Steakhouse was frequented by Tallahasseans and the surrounding area. The reason it is located over the water is that at one time Leon and Wakulla counties were dry, but you could get a drink in Franklin. An enterprising state legislator passed a bill moving the Franklin county line to the east shore of the Bay and then built a bar/restaurant on pilings just over the line. At the time, this made it the closest legal bar to Tallahassee. Food was priced amicably and the service by locals was excellent. I believe this place had been there approximately twenty five to thirty years.
From the restaurant we will travel over a bridge and then in less than a mile we take a left towards a beach area named Alligator Point. Alligator Point is easily reached from the northern half of Florida or Georgia. The closest airport is in Tallahassee (45 min drive). There is also a small unpaved private landing strip just a 10 minute drive away. People are drawn to this coast because the beaches are mostly empty of people and yet still offer everything they seek when vacationing at the beach.
As Florida State University students many of us would travel to Alligator Point since it was the beach with the shortest drive. The road would end in the middle of the isolated peninsula where turning left on the beach road would take us to THE POINT where a river Ochlocknee opened into the gulf. We would light fires at night, fish and swim during the day away from all the trappings of built up condos and resort areas.
The road that you see in the picture above is the beach road we took. Now this road simply goes right out into the Gulf. You can see a pile of rubble that was once part of a home. There were several homes along this road that are now completely gone. The road has been moved inland so you can still reach THE POINT which now is a National Park area.
The second picture is the pile of rubble you could just barely see on the right of the picture above.
Taking the right turn on the beach road will take you to the more populated portion of the island. Several damaged homes and road damage can be seen in the next pictures.
There are several coastal communities that were once a paradise along the Gulf Panhandle. Now, as you drive along the beach roads you can see the look in the owners’ eyes. It is no longer the look of pride of owning a little piece of paradise. Instead it is a for sale sign on 40% of the properties in this community. Something you will not see on the evening news.
Certainly and Sincerely Sig
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