St. Johns County considers buying out homeowners in Summer Haven after nor’easter damage

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Johns County leaders are trying to fig retired however to hole a formation that was devastated during the caller Nor’easter conscionable a fewer weeks ago.

This specifically involves Summer Haven which is confederate St. Johns County conscionable northbound of the Flagler County line.

During its Tuesday day meeting, St. Johns County commissioners spoke astir a important breach of the water during a nor’easter that worsened erosion successful the area.

“The water is taking the onshore back,” said 1 commissioner during the meeting.

Another commissioner called Summer Haven the “most volatile agelong of beach” successful Florida and suggested that it’s clip to see buying retired homeowners there.

County officials estimation erosion from the nor’easter successful the Summer Haven country volition outgo much than $1 cardinal to repair, and they said they request to get with authorities and national agencies to travel up with a strategy of “managed retreat” from Summer Haven.

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Aerial video of Summer Haven shows determination is simply a breach that’s formed on the seashore due to the fact that of the damage, the benignant of harm locals are becoming utilized to.

“Well, Mother Nature has its mode of doing its ain thing. For illustration down the roadworthy here, these beloved souls, it’s hilarious. They effort and enactment soil dunes to capable successful and conscionable past week oregon the week earlier the water conscionable washed it each away,” said Summer Haven nonmigratory Lois Purdy.

Locals told News4Jax connected Wednesday roads person been washing distant implicit the years and galore homes are threatened. They expect things to get worse arsenic the years spell by.

“Down astatine the rocks, that’s gotten importantly bad,” nonmigratory Catalina Williams said. “And they effort and screen it with soil aft each azygous storm. And it’s benignant of like, it’s hopeless. It always, you know, we’re going to person to travel up arsenic a assemblage with thing better.

The region committee issued a coastal tempest lawsuit proclamation truthful homeowners could use for authorities permits to repair their damaged oversea walls.

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Applications request to beryllium submitted wrong 30 days from the archetypal coastal event. Properties built aft March 17, 1985, are not eligible. A implicit database of eligibility requirements is disposable here.

Two homes successful South Ponte Vedra person failing oversea walls to the constituent the homes are successful information of collapse. The commissioners approved $120,000 for repairs to the South Ponte Vedra Beach Pavilion.

“The nor’easter made the walkover and the pavilion successful South Ponte Vedra Beach unusable for nationalist access,” said Ryan Kane, manager of St. Johns County Parks and Recreation. “The backing approved contiguous volition assistance america reconstruct this nationalist amenity for each to enjoy.”

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Crews had been moving connected gathering backmost the dunes for rather immoderate time, but overmuch of that advancement was washed away during the nor’easter 2 weekends ago.

St. Johns County unit has besides contacted different agencies similar the Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection for assistance fixing the problem.

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