INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. – Horribly damaged beaches are sights many haven’t seen in quite some time in Indian River County.
Jaycee Park in Vero Beach has some of the worst damage Angelique Seconddine has ever seen. “Usually the sand’s white and there's wide stretches,” she said.
Indian River County leaders say Hurricane Matthew did at least $15 million in damage; nearly 13 million of that to the shoreline.
They say nearly 16 miles of beach is critically eroded.
Indian River County Coastal Engineer James Gray compared the beach erosion caused by Matthew to what Superstorm Sandy left behind.
He said the damage is nearly as bad as Frances and Jeanne. “We were close to those types of damages.”
Gray said county and city workers are assessing the damage and the costs. “It’s imperative that we restore our crosswalks, restore our beaches that the public goes to. Obviously beaches are an economic engine for Indian River County locally and throughout the state.”
County leaders will meet with FEMA officials this week and should begin renourishment as soon as possible.
