Gov. DeSantis announces over $58 million to help fund central Florida dune restoration

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. — Central Florida’s coastal counties will be getting more than $50 million from the state to restore dunes after this year’s hurricanes.

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Ian and Nicole caused massive losses up and down the coast, especially in Volusia County.

This announcement is just the beginning of a long process.

State leaders said they would be pushing things along, but there is no easy or cheap way to put all the sand back on the beaches.

The Tiger Dam is just one example of where the dune used to end.

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Governor Ron Desantis announced Wednesday that, in total, $100 million would be given to Florida for dune restoration.

The money used for this funding was from the Florida special session.

DeSantis said $37.7 million would be given to Volusia County, $17 million to Flagler County and 3.2 million to Brevard County.

State leaders said this would pull the area’s tourism industry off life-support.

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“We will be here as you recover,” said Shawn Hamilton, Florida Department of Environmental Protection secretary.

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole caused almost a billion dollars in damage to Volusia County. This damage included washing away dunes, tearing down sea walls and forcing people out of their homes.

“We won’t know until we get the total numbers and how much the sea walls are going to cost the renourishment project,” said Daytona Beach Shores Mayor Nancy Miller. “It’s a fabulous start.”

Read: Two central Florida counties receive $17 million for land conservation

Miller said that she and other town leaders are deep into the planning process for restoring the area.

The mayor is also working with other property owners to encourage them to file permits, which will kick off much-needed repairs.

“(We will) see what they need and how we can help them expedite that and navigate with our legislators,” Miller said.

Miller said they are still determining how they will divide this money within the county.

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Mystery object in Daytona Beach They think the object, which they believe was buried under more than 5 feet of sand just south of Frank Rendon Park, may be a cargo ship from the 1800s. (WFTV Staff)

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