CEDAR KEY, FL (352today.com) – The first thing you might notice just inside the new offices of Cedar Key’s City Hall is a willow and the sign that sits next to it. It reads in part, “the willow tree often symbolizes flexibility and adaptability… the willow tree is also seen as a survivor and a symbol of rebirth.”
In many ways, the willow is symbolic of Cedar Key’s story of recovery from Hurricane Idalia.
The powerful storm slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast just before Labor Day last year, flooding homes and businesses in Cedar Key.
While many businesses are back open and tourists have returned to the clam capital, the mayor of the coastal community says they can’t assume the odds are with them. “You can’t think like that,” said Mayor Sue Colson. “You should always be prepared, and you should learn from each storm.”
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Colson says the community knows there will be more storms and Cedar Key will always be susceptible to a hurricane’s destructive forces. Afterall, Cedar Key is not just along the water; the series of islands are out in the Gulf by three miles with only one way in and out via State Road 24.
“Coastal communities, including Cedar Key, are increasingly vulnerable to flooding due to climate change,” according to an ongoing study by the University of Florida Agricultural Sciences. “The low-lying communities on Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast are already at risk from storm surge flooding, and sea level rise only worsens flood risk over time. In fact, recent reports indicate sea levels are rising faster than projected in some areas of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Cedar Key.”
City leaders know a few feet can make a big difference when storm surge sends floodwaters rushing in. All you have to do is compare the old city hall’s offices to the Chamber’s Welcome Center next door.
The former city hall location at 490 2nd Street flooded during Hurricane Idalia. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center next door at 450 2nd Street sits just a few feet higher and remained dry enough to be the central point for storm efforts.
That’s why Cedar Key has moved its city hall about a quarter mile away to higher ground. The city secured a new location in one of the highest spots in town at the former community building at 809 6th St.
The city has renovated the building adjacent to the Indian Shell Mound to be in compliance with FEMA standards. The new storm-resistant facility is designed to minimize future disruptions.
Business that made modifications prior to the storm recovered more quickly. Two shops just across from the old city hall poured solid cement floors and included drainage to help wash out the muck after a storm. They moved the electrical up higher on the walls to get it away from the water. The businesses flooded during Idalia, but the modifications helped them be among the first to reopen.
Cedar Key residents know it’s not a matter of if but when another storm will threaten their coastal charm. They hope the changes many are making now will help protect that charm for generations to come.
