Ten years ago this week, in October 2016, Hurricane Matthew brushed the Northeast Florida coast. It never made landfall here, but it still left some St. Augustine neighborhoods devastated.
Davis Shores
News4Jax reported that a 7-foot storm surge hit Davis Shores, the first neighborhood over the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island. Homes took on 4 to 5 feet of water mixed with raw sewage, and streets were lined with piles of ruined mattresses, couches, wood and appliances.
Resident Cheryl Briggs, whose two homes were both gutted, said her house was “completely destroyed.” Amy Arnow, who lost 15 years of belongings including photo albums and her son’s toys, told the station she had decided to leave for good.
The city today
Since then, St. Augustine has taken on projects like raising the Avenida Menendez seawall and adding tide check valves to keep high tides out of storm drains. You can read about them in our article on St. Augustine’s flood projects.
DIY-DRY rents commercial dehumidifiers, air movers and moisture meters across Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties, with delivery available 24/7. See our St. Augustine page, browse the equipment, or call 386-597-1132.
Questions and answers
How high was Hurricane Matthew’s storm surge in St. Augustine?
News4Jax reported a 7-foot storm surge in Davis Shores.
Did Matthew make landfall in St. Augustine?
No. It stayed offshore but still flooded homes with 4 to 5 feet of water.
Which St. Augustine neighborhood did Matthew hit hardest?
Davis Shores on Anastasia Island, where homes took on 4 to 5 feet of water, News4Jax reported.
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
- News4Jax, “7-foot storm surge devastates St. Augustine neighborhood”, Oct. 2016 – news4jax.com