The damage left behind in the fishing village of Horseshoe Beach is exposing a gulf between haves and have-nots as cash-strapped residents could be forced to leave the quaint, remote community rivaled by few others along the Florida shoreline. With emergency crews still working to restore electricity and provide temporary housing, locals worry that those unable to afford insurance will struggle to reconstruct homes that must comply with modern, more expensive building codes. Longtime residents share varying degrees of bullishness that the charm and business will return to the quiet town of less than 200 people. Idalia roared ashore with winds of 125 mph and a storm surge that flattened some houses and knocked others off their foundations and into canals.

Most residents cannot afford insurance, and the debris may be cleared in a couple of months but a return to normal will take years. Tina Brotherton, a resident of Horseshoe Beach since 1978, worries that the hurricane will accelerate changes that began with a previous storm in 1993. She lost her marina and the cafe next door in that disaster and had to replace the floors and beds at Tina's Dockside Inn. Now her hotel, which she has owned for 52 years, is destroyed in Idalia's wake. She had no flood insurance due to the high cost of insuring her low-lying buildings.

The modern building codes require that houses be elevated to certain heights to protect against storms, and lifting a house can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This has brought in a different type of people with more money and pricier homes, transforming Horseshoe Beach from a fishing village to a community filled with golf carts, ATVs, and airboats. Despite the challenges, residents like Stephanie Foley, a 41-year-old teacher, and Brent Woodard, the owner of Reel Native Fishing Charters, still have hope for the future of Horseshoe Beach. Foley describes the community as closely knit, where people do not feel the need to lock their doors.

Woodard is focused on ensuring that the fishing industry can quickly get back on track, as it is the livelihood for many residents. While the locals may face financial struggles and uncertainties, they remain resilient. Timmy Futch, a fourth-generation resident and the owner of the Florida Cracker Shrimp & Bait Co., has experienced storms growing bigger and meaner throughout the years. Although his shop was flooded by Idalia, Futch remains confident that tourists will return and continue to enjoy the charms of Horseshoe Beach. Despite the destruction caused by the hurricane, the residents of Horseshoe Beach, known for their hard work and determination, are determined to rebuild and preserve their way of life.