Day After Idalia, Residents Race Time and Tides to Sweep the Sea From Tarpon Springs’ Streets

Tampa Bay-area town dodged hurricane’s winds and torrential rains, but not a storm surge that flooded its famous Sponge Docks.

The intersection of Cross and Athens streets off Dodecanese Boulevard in Tarpon Springs, Fla., was still flooded around noon on Aug. 30, 2023, more than 12 hours after Hurricane Idalia churned past 125 miles to the west the night before. John Haughey/The Epoch Times

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla.—At daybreak, the fishermen went down to the sea in water up to their hips to see if their ships were still moored to Anclote River piers or marooned on Dodecanese Boulevard, now a three-foot-deep canal.

The fishing boats were all there, riding high in the swollen river, bumping rhythmically against rubber dock camels, masts slightly a-sway but otherwise undamaged. They had survived Idalia’s big blow the night before.