Hurricane Irma came through Flagler County in September 2017, less than a year after Hurricane Matthew. For some neighborhoods, it was worse.
What Irma did
FlaglerLive reported on September 11, 2017 that more than 50,000 customers, about 87 percent of the county, lost power. On the south end of Flagler Beach, nearly every house at an elevation of 6 feet or lower took on water, and Commissioner Rick Belhumeur said that in some spots the water was 2 to 3 feet deeper than during Matthew. Beverly Beach was heavily flooded too, especially the Surfside Estates community.
On the mainland, Palm Coast saw flooded streets, swales and yards rather than widespread flooding inside homes. Bunnell recorded about 12 inches of rain, parts of Palm Coast about 10 inches, and the coast saw a surge of about 36 inches.
The dunes that followed
Matthew and Irma together stripped away much of the county’s dune system. In January 2018, FlaglerLive reported the start of a $25 million dune restoration covering 11 to 15 miles of beach, funded by FEMA, the state, homeowners and a local loan backed by tourist tax dollars. State Senator Travis Hutson put it plainly: “The next storm is coming.”
He was right. In 2022, Hurricane Ian stripped away much of that restored sand, and the work of rebuilding the dunes continues.
DIY-DRY rents commercial dehumidifiers, air movers and moisture meters across Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties, with delivery available 24/7. See our Flagler Beach page, browse the equipment, or call 386-597-1132.
Questions and answers
How many people lost power in Flagler County during Irma?
More than 50,000 customers, about 87 percent of the county, according to FlaglerLive.
Which areas flooded the worst?
The south end of Flagler Beach and Beverly Beach, especially Surfside Estates.
What happened to Flagler’s dunes after Irma?
A $25 million dune restoration began in early 2018 after Matthew and Irma.
This article is general information drawn from the sources listed below. It is not professional, legal, insurance or restoration advice. DIY-DRY is an equipment rental company.
Sources
- FlaglerLive, “Hurricane Irma damage report”, Sept. 11, 2017 – flaglerlive.com
- FlaglerLive, “Raising Faith Over Futility, Flagler Launches Unprecedented $25 Million Dunes-Restoration Feat”, Jan. 27, 2018 – flaglerlive.com