MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Nearly all of the city commissioners in Madeira Beach suffered losses when Hurricane Helene sent a record breaking storm surge into Pinellas County, and they shared their dramatic stories this week.
“We're strong, we're resilient and we will rebuild,” said Eddie McGeehan, 55, District 3 Commissioner. “We love Madeira Beach.”
McGeehan lost his home and all of his belongings to Helene’s floodwaters on Sept. 26, along with a relationship with his girlfriend who owned the home.
“Very stressful and very difficult when you lose everything,” he said. “Including, a 7-year-relationship and your house and all the memories.”
McGeehan said they waited until the last minute to evacuate and nearly stalled out an SUV twice on Gulf Boulevard as Helene sent 4 feet of seawater into the home.
“The surge was difficult on Gulf Boulevard, you can't see the curb, you can't see the street. So you're kind of just guessing as to where you're going,” he said. “Luckily, we made the decision, like everyone should, just to evacuate. I've learned that lesson.”
A neighbor took a photo which shows flood water more than half way up the home. McGeehan has been living in a small one bedroom rental duplex in Seminole for the past month and said his girlfriend moved to Texas because she was over dealing with hurricanes.
Four of the five city commissioners in Madeira Beach suffered losses.
Ray Kerr, Commissioner for District 2, also lost his home, two cars and two jet skis to Helene’s floodwaters. Kerr has been living in a Redington Beach condo ever since and said his family is fortunate to have a place to be. The commissioner said because of FEMA’s 50 percent rule, his home is a total loss and he plans to build a new one to code.
“We’re absolutely staying in Madeira Beach,” said Kerr. “This is our home.”
The District 4 Commissioner, Housh Ghovaee, had his 2023 pickup truck ruined when he got caught in the storm surge on the Tom Stuart Causeway, which was caught on video.
“I was pushed by the water,” he said. “I guess the truck got somewhat buoyant and it took me off the road.”
Witness Nicole Daulton, shot dramatic video from a fourth-floor condo at The Residences of people trying to rescue Ghovaee from his truck.
“I'm sitting there going, ‘He's going to die. It's up to his window,’” she said. “Cabinets are slamming into him, debris slamming into him and I'm in tears going, ‘This man is going to die.’”
In the video, floodwater can be seen reaching up to the headlights, and a boater floats up to the truck and tries to convince Ghovaee to leave, but he wouldn’t budge.
“I saw a gentleman on his boat. He came and said, ‘Let me help you just get out of here’ and he was in line with my window,” said Ghovaee. “I was thinking that maybe eventually this water would go down. I did feel safe, and the truck was still running.”
The commissioner said he got caught in the storm surge after moving his truck to higher ground at the Publix on the other side of the drawbridge but then realized the water was too deep for him to walk back to his nearby home.
“I said, ‘You know what? I better get back in the truck and go back home just the way I came’ and I did. I drove through some 2 ½ feet of water right next to the McDonald’s,” he said. “I came over the bridge and everything was fine. Once I got to here (Snug Harbor Condos), the surge happened instantaneously.”
Ghovaee said he spent an hour inside his truck, with water reaching up to his chest inside the cab, before deciding to abandon the vehicle. He felt like a captain going down with his ship.
“I was loyal to my truck because my truck was loyal to me. It just was humming like you wouldn’t believe and it wasn’t giving in,” he said. “So I said, ‘Baby, you’re not giving up on me. I’m not giving up on you.’”
Ghovaee said he also lost a motorcycle and all the belongings inside his garage to Helene. He has since purchased a new pickup truck, same make and model.
Vice Mayor and District 1 Commissioner David Tagliarini lives in an elevated house and also had his garage flooded by Helene. He lost two cars, along with all of his belongings inside the garage, which include half of his music. Tagliarini’s a freelance flutist.
The city leaders weathered the back-to-back storms and have become part of rebuilding the community they serve both personally and professionally.