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Local State of Emergency

April 9, 2008

Beach erosion
County Engineer Darrell Locklear reported some good news today for five families in jeopardy of having their homes wash into the Atlantic Ocean.

Gerry Stokes’ home on Coastal Highway (SR A1A North) as well as the homes of four other families located north of Vilano Beach are covered under a local “state of emergency”.

Now the north beach residents can apply to obtain the necessary permits to build a temporary (and later permanent) seawall to shore up their houses.

The erosion has been so severe that as much as three feet of earth beneath Stokes’ foundation has been washed out to sea.

The residents have wanted to erect seawalls for some time and they are accepting full financial responsibility for the costs of filling and constructing the necessary reinforcements. Stokes will remain nervous until the work is complete; but this step taken by the county will pave the way for her permit to be approved within the next few weeks.

Written by AuggieNewsHound · Filed Under Government 

Comments

One Response to “Local State of Emergency”

  1. Admin on April 22nd, 2008 11:21 am

    From the St. Johns County Administrator’s bi-weekly letter released Friday:

    Recent strong northeast winds and high tide conditions have created critical erosion in the 3500 block of Coastal Highway north of Vilano Beach.

    An emergency declaration was promptly issued by the County, which enables the homeowners to obtain expedited reviews by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for potential temporary bulkhead construction to protect their properties.

    An instruction sheet and application form was sent to each homeowner in the affected area.

    The professional expertise and extraordinary effort of County Engineer Press Tompkins and Assistant County Engineer Andy Ames have been critical in getting the State, Federal, and private players in this complex process coordinated and cooperating to benefit the impacted property owners.

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