A congressman announced Tuesday that federal officials have approved $8.7 million in Hurricane Milton damage funding for Flagler County beach restoration, ending a months-long wait for federal signatures on previously approved disaster relief money.
The funding comes from FEMA’s Community Assistance and Technical Grant (CATG) program and will cover 75% of an $11.7 million beach restoration project. The remaining 25% will be split between state and local governments, with Flagler County responsible for approximately $1.4 million.
Quick Federal Action After Local Advocacy
The congressman said the funding approval came within two weeks of his visit to tour Flagler County’s storm-damaged beaches. During that visit, local officials explained they were waiting for federal signatures on money that had already been budgeted and approved.
“We have $9 million that’s waiting, that’s approved, that’s in the budget, that we’ve already gotten for the beaches, but we can’t get a signature out of Washington,” the congressman recalled being told. “As I drove away from the tour, I started making phone calls. And lo and behold, a few days later, all it took was those calls.”
The congressman emphasized that the quick turnaround was unusual, saying, “Don’t I can’t set that expectation. Every problem I’m not going to be able to solve in two weeks, but this was one that we were able to.”
Hurricane Milton’s Impact on Flagler Beaches
County coastal engineer officials explained that Hurricane Milton caused significant damage to the lower-lying areas of Flagler County’s coastline. The storm produced a 2-3 foot surge that reached the top of existing dunes, eroding most of the dune structure in the affected areas.
The restoration project will focus on areas from Malacompra Park going north to Marineland. Work is expected to begin on November 1, with an existing contractor who is already working on a separate dune restoration project continuing north to implement the Milton recovery work.
Federal Criticism and Beach Protection Philosophy
The congressman criticized federal agencies for lengthy delays in disaster reimbursement, noting that some communities wait years to receive FEMA funding. “It doesn’t matter how big FEMA is. If you’ve got to wait five years to get paid back for the expenses that you have when there’s a hurricane, if you have to take out a loan from the bank and pay interest on it to cover your expenses, I’m not sure how much good it is,” he said.
He praised Flagler County’s approach to beach protection, which focuses on natural dune restoration with native vegetation rather than artificial structures. “The best way to protect the beach is with a dune with natural grasses growing. God had it right. He knew how to protect it,” the congressman explained. “It is the roots that hold the dune in place, that hold the sand in place and protect things.”
The natural approach requires time for plant roots to establish deep enough to hold sand in place, creating vulnerability during the initial growing period. “You do that and the plants will hold the sand in place, and they will protect the dune,” he said.
Additional Federal Initiatives Discussed
During the press conference, the congressman addressed his proposal to create a federal designation for Florida’s natural springs. He compared Florida’s springs to Yellowstone National Park, noting that “Florida has the largest concentrations of natural springs. Not in Florida, not in the United States, but in the world.”
The proposal would have the National Park Service and Department of the Interior evaluate creating national park, monument, or recreation area designations for Florida springs to provide federal protection and increase tourism. “People travel the country to visit our national parks. Because being a national park means you’re the best America has to offer,” he explained.
He also addressed federal rules requiring crosswalks to be used only for safety purposes, not political demonstrations or tourism promotion, which has affected some painted crosswalks in other parts of his district.
Local Officials Present Support
Multiple local officials attended the press conference, including county commissioners, city council members, mayors, and county staff. The county administrator and coastal engineering staff were present to provide technical details about the restoration project timeline and scope.
County officials noted they had maintained constant communication with FEMA’s beach restoration team throughout the approval process. Still, they had reached a point where they were no longer receiving feedback before congressional intervention.
Future Beach Protection Outlook
When asked about the long-term future of Florida’s beaches, the congressman emphasized their critical importance to the state’s identity and economy. “This is what makes Florida Florida,” he said. “Whether it’s our beaches, the intracoastal waterway, the St. John’s River, our springs, our rivers, our lakes, if we don’t preserve those, we lose what makes Florida Florida.”
He stressed that beach protection serves multiple purposes beyond tourism, including protecting real estate, ensuring public safety, and maintaining the natural features that distinguish Florida from other states with similar tax and climate advantages.
The congressman indicated that water-related infrastructure issues, including beaches, wastewater, roads, storm water, and surface water concerns, represent his primary local focus across the six-county district he represents.
This federal funding represents one component of Flagler County’s broader beach management strategy, which officials have indicated requires approximately $12 million annually for ongoing maintenance and restoration efforts.
Definitions:
- FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides disaster relief funding
- CATG: Community Assistance and Technical Grant, a FEMA program that provides funding for disaster recovery projects
- Storm surge: Rising water levels caused by hurricane winds pushing ocean water onto shore
- Dune: Natural sand hills along coastlines that protect from storms and erosion
