Catching shrimp

Jessie White, in his words, was “tickled to have a house at all” after Hurricane Helene slammed into his small community, Steinhatchee, on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

White, who owns a small commercial shrimping business, also inherited a sanitation business from his family about two years ago. He was already working hard to make ends meet, and was caring for his wife, who has a chronic illness, before the hurricane came on Sept. 26, 2024.

In nearby Sea Hag Marina, a marker shows Helene brought a 21-foot storm surge. Even though White’s house, a mile from the marina, was elevated more than ten feet off the ground, it still took in 18 inches of water, ruining the drywall, inundating the couple’s belongings, and washing mud into every crack and crevice.

In March 2026—nearly a year and half after Helene—Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers were working in White’s house. They replaced the drywall and flooring and applied a fresh coat of paint.

The week most of the work was being done, the price of fuel skyrocketed, causing White to worry even more about the shrimping business. “To pick up nets, the gas for my boat went from $150 to $250,” he said. He also faced a repair bill for the boat’s hull.

But he knew he could catch enough shrimp to cook for the volunteers, so he planned to host a cookout at the end of the week. He wanted to thank them in the best way he knew how.

White, who was born in Steinhatchee, said he didn’t know what to make of the volunteers at first. “It was almost too good to be true,” he said. He and his wife have been living in three different used RVs in the backyard. They cook in one, shower in another, and sleep in the third, because they have to use what works.

“That gets old mighty quick,” he smiled, adding, “When we get back home, I’m going to get a good night’s sleep and a good bath.”

When he first saw the house after Helene, he thought maybe the damage was not that extensive. “But one thing leads to another, leads to another—it just jumps out of nowhere. The list—I just can’t get rid of it.”

The volunteers have made a big dent in that list, White said.

“They’re very professional,” he said. “They know what they’re doing. It feels good knowing everything won’t get wet when it rains,” he said.

Susan Kim – MDS Writer