Residents from Volusia County community hit hard by Hurricane Nicole call on leaders for help
People who lost their beachfront homes to Hurricane Nicole in Volusia County say they're not sure how or when they can get help to rebuild.
One resident said at a meeting Monday night he feels like he's getting the run-around from zoning, inspections and permits. Others are not sure if they can rebuild their homes back to the way they were.
Two hurricanes slammed through Florida within six weeks. The most recent one hit a Volusia County community especially hard. Wilbur-by-the-Sea residents with damaged homes are begging for help.
"We need a fighting chance!" resident David Krivich said.
Over a dozen people met at the town's boathouse Monday night to talk about concerns over Hurricane Nicole recovery efforts. Some local leaders, like county commissioners, were there to listen and support.
"We're really being told the same messages over and over again, but none of that – and I'm just going to be frank – none of that is bringing sand to my house,” Krivich said.
"If we have one more northeaster, the homes that are teetering on the edge of the cliff, like ours, they're sure to go,” resident Kate Rose said.
The storm surge crushed protective sand dunes causing seawalls to crumble. People want a timeline on rebuilding efforts such as permits, zoning and inspections.
The county said it is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to speed things up.
"When Ian came through we were still working through a lot of the emergency orders that were given to us and we were trying to figure out who's responsible for what,” Volusia County Director of Growth and Research Management Clay Ervin said.
"We're looking for immediate action,” Krivich said. "We’re looking for our government, our state, our county to come in here and provide us relief."
"It's one thing to say we're going to fix the problem and it's going to take time and it's going to take money – frankly, we don't want to hear it,” Rose said. "We’ve got to be able to have a special dispensation to get in, do the work to save not just our homes but also to save this entire of the beachline. This is a community."
Volusia County said the estimated cost of property damage from Hurricane Nicole as of Monday afternoon is $522,811,108.