TAYLOR COUNTY – As soon as the all-clear was given in Clay County, personnel from sheriff’s, fire rescue and emergency management offices were already on the way to help with the rescue and recovery efforts in hurricane-ravaged Taylor County, which took a direct landfall hit from Category 4 Hurricane Helene with wind gusts of 160 mph on Thursday, Sept. 26. They found miles of total devastation and residents trapped by flooding, debris and seclusion. Deputies helped protect property owners by arresting looters and trespassers and removing debris from waterways so flooding could subside, while others used jet skis to deliver food and water to trapped residents. Fire rescue firefighters and emergency management helped with recovery as the community continued to find a small sense of normalcy after its third hurricane in 13 months.