Shelling up a Storm

By Meredith Blain

Haven’t we all heard about amazing shelling after storms? It’s true. I’ve seen plenty of photos on social media. While beachcombers might be excited, the people living in the actual disaster zone may not feel the same. I’ve personally experienced living in disaster zones for Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

Safety should be your first priority. Check on your friends who may have been affected by the storm. They may need to decompress. It’s a lot of effort to prepare or evacuate, and a lot of stress worrying about their home. I’ve never rushed to a beach hit by a major hurricane.

There are dangerous conditions and a lot of considerations to review. Crews will be out restoring power and cleaning up debris. Traveling will be difficult. Stoplights will not be operating, gas may be unavailable, streets may be flooded, and downed trees may be blocking the roadways.

In addition, the ocean water may not be safe. Debris will be in the water, and large sewage spills often occur. Entering the water can be life threatening. I personally don’t want to interfere with any disaster cleanup or residents trying to make repairs.

Living in Florida, I have learned to visit beaches not as severely affected by the storms. Florida is blessed to be a state with one of the largest coastlines. Shelling can be unbelievable for many weeks or even months after a large storm.

I have even found that beachcombing on the opposite coast can lead to incredible finds. On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton landed near Siesta Key in Southwest Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. I had already planned a trip to the West Palm Beach area on the East Coast of Florida the weekend of October 25 and 26.

What an epic and unexpected adventure it was, filled with a treasure trove of seashells! I was surrounded by shark eyes the size of my palm and hundreds of scotch bonnets, enough to finally fill a jar. I also stumbled upon sundials, rock snails, tritons, and green star shells.

The storm finds also included turbans, nutmegs, lion paws, and an abundance of bittersweets. Additionally, I discovered helmets, hawk wings, and the majestic imperial Venus.

I became even more excited when I started spotting a type of gaudy nautica that was different than the typical colorful moon snail. After some investigation, I believe that I have found Glyphepithema floridana (Rehder, 1943), also known as a Florida gaudy nautica. These are uncommon and most likely deceased due to the recent storms.

After shelling for 14 years, I tend to be more selective about what goes in my bucket. I found 21 pounds of seashells that weekend on the East Coast of Florida, along with a renewed interest in seashell collecting. I may not have a way with words, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Cheers to more beautiful finds, remembering the little things, and weathering the storms.

All photos courtesy of Meredith Blain.

Learn more about seashells

Learn more about identifying shells, the history of seashell collecting, great shelling beaches, and the lives of the animals who make the shells we find on the beach. Articles ›

No live shelling: Be sure shells are empty and sand dollars, sea stars, and sea urchins are no longer alive before you bring them home.

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 47 March/April 2025.