Key Highlights
- A $10M beach restoration project is set to begin in west Destin on March 23.
- The project aims to protect property and benefit beachgoers after Hurricane Sally caused significant erosion in 2020.
- FEMA funds 90% of the project, with 10% coming from beach restoration reserves.
- Over 150,000 cubic yards of sand will be dredged for renourishment.
The Struggle for Recovery in Destin
In 2020, when Hurricane Sally hit, it wasn’t just a storm—it was a wake-up call. Teresa Hebert, the city councilwoman and mayor pro tempore of Destin, remembers vividly how much beachfront property was lost. “It has taken about this long for FEMA to help us get everything together,” she said.
A Massive Undertaking
Over 150,000 cubic yards of sand will be dredged from the Gulf and pumped onto the eroded beach. Nick Tomecek, the Okaloosa County PIO, explains the timeline: “People will start seeing equipment going out there by the end of March. Then they’ll start the actual dredging. And then they’ll start the actual pumping and renourishing of the beach in April.”
Collaboration for a Better Tomorrow
The project is 90% funded by FEMA, with the remaining 10% coming from local beach restoration reserves. “One of the qualifications for FEMA is to protect property,” Tomecek said. “So that’s the major function of this project is to protect those structures, those condos, those homes from future storms and future erosion. But it’s also going to benefit the beachgoers that are going on to enjoy the sand and emerald green waters.”
Gratitude and Hope
The City of Destin is grateful for the collaboration with Okaloosa County and FEMA. “It is nice to see it come to fruition, especially right now, right as spring break is hitting,” Hebert said. “We do have the luck of having such a beautiful area. We are the little piece of paradise everybody wishes they could have.”
The project is expected to wrap up by the end of April, and the beach in west Destin will remain open and accessible to the public during the restoration efforts.