Hurricane Ian is remembered for its rain. Along Flagler County’s coast, it’s also remembered for what it took: the dunes.
What Ian took
FlaglerLive reported on October 3, 2022 that Ian wiped out dune protection along all 18 miles of Flagler County’s coastline, including the sand restoration completed in 2018 and 2019. The storm carved out roughly 1 million tons of sand that had been placed along 11.4 miles of the northern beach.
Near the Flagler Beach boardwalk, dunes north of the pier were gone, leaving only vegetation between the ocean and State Road A1A. At Marineland, the beach disappeared down to the coquina rock. The Florida Department of Transportation’s 2018 seawall had pilings exposed for about 10 feet. The county engineer warned, “We’re down to the last line of defense.”
Why dunes matter
Dunes are a buffer. They absorb waves and surge that would otherwise reach roads and homes. When they’re gone, even an ordinary nor’easter can threaten A1A, which is why rebuilding them has been a priority after every major storm, from Matthew and Irma to Ian and Nicole.
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Questions and answers
How much of Flagler’s shoreline lost its dunes in Ian?
All 18 miles lost dune protection, according to FlaglerLive.
How much sand did Ian remove?
About 1 million tons along 11.4 miles of the northern beach.
Why do dunes matter for homes?
They absorb waves and surge that would otherwise reach roads and homes.
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, “Catastrophic Loss: Dunes All But Gone Along Flagler’s 18-Mile Shoreline, Leaving A1A Dangerously Exposed”, Oct. 3, 2022 – flaglerlive.com