A.G. Gancarski
On Friday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott invoked the ongoing state of emergency in the wake of Hurricane Matthew to earmark $15.8 million for beach restoration in some Northeast Florida counties.
St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Brevard Counties will benefit from the funds. Duval and Nassau Counties will not.
The allocation prioritizes beach and dune restoration in areas where property or public works, such as roads, are threatened.
The money, Scott said Friday, is to “expedite emergency restoration projects in order to repair our beaches and ensure beachfront roadways and buildings are prepared for any potential future storms.”
A worry among some Northeast Florida legislators: that the eroded beaches would be impacted by the Nor’easters their part of the state sees.
This allocation helps to stem the worst of that, at least in areas where property interests are imperiled.
Beyond this allocation, more money will be earmarked for this process in Gov. Scott’s new budget, which will “also include the remaining $61.2 million to fulfill the state’s share of needed restoration, for a total of $77 million, based on the latest hurricane damage assessment from both Hurricanes Matthew and Hermine,” claims a release from his office.
