VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County residents are still reeling from the hurricane season.
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Some said they even had temporary fixes in place to shore up their properties following Hurricane Ian, but it took too long to get permits.
Nina Lavigna’s house was just one of 30 homes damaged after the two hurricanes rolled through.
She said the county permit for a seawall came in a week or two, but she didn’t know she needed a Department of Environmental Protection permit. By the time she figured it out, it was too late. The next thing she knew, her house was gone.
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The county said the DEP allowed for permits for temporary structures, like bringing in sand.
However, some properties are more complicated than others.
Commissioners and the county office said that after Hurricane Ian, there were several factors that didn’t allow for more construction on the beach.
Due to a “deflated beach profile,” high tide made it difficult to get debris removed, conduct inspections or complete any construction repairs.
Turtle nesting season also prevented construction on the beach. That didn’t end until Oct. 31, and supply chain issues also factored in.
With only six weeks between Ian and Nicole, there just wasn’t time to get significant repairs done.
The county said in an email that they are working to expedite those permits in emergency situations to protect homes and to allow for reconstruction.
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