As his administration responds to widespread destruction in Florida’s Gulf coast and Big Bend regions, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Saturday that at least 11 deaths in the state were related to Hurricane Helene.

State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie implored people not involved in recovery efforts to stay off the roads as authorities conducted search-and-rescue efforts amid debris and dissipating storm surge.

And for a long time, hurricanes have been a fact of life ‒ and usually mild enough to ride out in town. Locals threw hurricane parties, cracking open beers and howling defiance at the wind.