Walton County residents and law enforcement work together in cleanup efforts

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Miramar Beach, bringing winds, rain, and damage to Walton County. As residents began cleaning up, a Walton County Sheriff’s deputy helped his neighbors before addressing damage to his own home, and fellow deputies later returned the favor.

Walton County resident Caroline Ambrose described the storm as it hit.

“First it was cool, but scary. The trees were just whirling. We were taking videos and then it kind of the reality set in that we had no power. It was only getting worse. And then we started hearing loud thuds,” Ambrose said.

When the sun rose, damage was visible on the beaches and through the neighborhoods.

“We couldn’t get over it. We truly could not get over power lines everywhere. The neighbor behind us, they had a huge tree come in between their garage and their house. We were all in shock,” Ambrose said.

A Walton County Sheriff’s deputy came home after a long shift to find branches covering his property. Instead of cleaning up his own home, he helped others first.

Fellow deputies then rallied around him to help clear the damage at his house.

“He had trees falling down on his house, so we’re trying to do everything we can to get trees off his house, so that way he doesn’t have to. He’s been out — when we pulled up, he was helping the neighbors. So we’re here to help him. He’s been out helping other people on his time off, um, trying to take care of his neighbors. So that’s what it’s all about,” Chief Deputy Dustin Cosson said.

Ambrose said she woke her son to see the deputies helping their neighbor.

“That was incredibly amazing enough for me to wake up my sleeping baby to see it. Which you’re never supposed to wake a sleeping child. But I was like, you know what? James needs to see this because that was like, it gave me goosebumps to see that. And they gave our little son James a sheriff’s badge and stickers. So it’s really cool,” Ambrose said.

Walton County Sheriff’s deputies have been working with utility companies to keep traffic flowing as crews work to restore power. Officials said restoration may take a few days. The Freeport High School shelter will remain open as needed.

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