- April 19, 2024
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Hurricane season has started and people are urged to make plans. But there’s something missing from Flagler County beaches: sand, and lots of it.
The county was hoping for $3 million from FEMA for emergency repairs for damaged dunes in front of public property while the county seeks funds for restoration.
“We have not received one dollar from FEMA,” County Administrator Craig Coffey told County Commissioners at a June 5 workshop where he provided a dunes repair update. “We’re nine months out (from Hurricane Matthew) and we don’t have the first project written. The problem is storms are coming.”
Chairman Nate McLaughlin asked who was at fault and Coffey said it was FEMA.
“We’ve tried to do it the right way and work with FEMA,” Coffey said. “We’ve been pleading with them.”
Al Hadeed, county attorney, said it has been an incredible challenge.
“Flagler County is so small,” he said. “We fall through so many cracks.”
He said Flagler doesn’t fit the FEMA template for different reasons, such as not having a prior federal project. He urged the commissioners to talk to anyone they know, such as state and federal legislators, to let them know of the problem.
“Let them know how vulnerable we are,” he said. “We have nothing that separates us from the Atlantic Ocean. “
Coffey said they explored bringing in sand from remote locations but the cost made it prohibitive. They also looked at getting sand from a local landowner but the person backed out.
The county has divided beach restoration into six different projects which are in various stages of planning and design. All have different funding sources and design plans.
Coffey delivered a bit of good news at the meeting. The state included in their budget $13.3 million for dunes restoration that will be split between Flagler and St. Johns counties. It is not known yet how the money will be split.
“We’re thankful the legislature put it back in and thankful the governor did not veto it,” Coffey said.
Donald O’Brien Jr., District 5 commissioner, asked if the county had thought of designating a “csar” to take care of beach and dune repair.
“You have so many responsibilities,” he said to Coffey. “It’s something we should think about.”
Coffey responded that he has a staff.
“I have a team, even though it looks like it’s just me,” he said.
He also said the county has been looking to hire an engineer and a project manager.
“It’s hard to hire with the economy improving,” he said.
