Breathing a sigh of relief, residents of Flagler County woke up Wednesday to good news.
As Hurricane Idalia made her way to Georgia, Floridians in Flagler County were cautiously optimistic about the overnight outcome. After multiple storms ravaged the coastal community starting with Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the late summer-early fall season better known as hurricane season is one locals have come to dread.
Many local businesses remained closed early Wednesday morning except for a few of the brave beachside including Kool Beenz coffee shop. Hanging their shingle in the breeze, regulars and those looking for a fresh cup of coffee headed in to say hello to owner Tim Bulischeck.
“I watched it and where everybody said the storm was going, I watched the impacts that it would have here and I felt like it would be safe enough to come here and open,” he said.
“Most people were going to be off work today and they might want a place to go. It’s a good day if you want to look at the ocean.”
The Florida Department of Transportation could be seen out early along SR A1A surveying the area for any damage and only minor flooding of driveways gave a sign that less than 24 hours before calls to close schools and evacuate certain homes had taken place.
The Flagler Beach Police Department kept curiosity seekers appraised of the small town’s status, and by afternoon, evacuation orders were lifted, the shelter closed and residents and visitors were eagerly heading to the beach in hopes of catching a glimpse of this month’s ‘blue moon’.
“I think that people look out for each other a lot,” said Bulischeck. “It’s a great community.”
For once, it seems Flagler Beach caught a break.
