Cedar Key expects significant storm surge from Helene as residents evacuate

Cedar Key, Fla. — Many residents and business owners in Cedar Key spent Wednesday preparing their properties for an expected storm surge of 10-to-15 feet from Hurricane Helene. “My gut says it’ll be worse than (Hurricane) Idalia,” said Hannah Healey, owner of The Prickly Palm. “It’s been a rough calendar year. ” Helene would be the third hurricane to hit the area in the past year.

Last month, Healey said Hurricane Debby sent 2 feet of storm surge into her business and last year Hurricane Idalia sent more than four feet. That’s why she decided to remove everything from The Prickly Palm, including the lower half of the cedar plank walls. “We removed it to Hurricane Idalia height,” she said. “I’ve only seen Idalia or worse predictions and so we said ‘pull the wood to at least Idalia.