FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2012

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP ISSUES EMERGENCY FINAL ORDER TO EXPEDITE HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY PROCESS

~Order authorizes local governments to issue permits for restoration of beaches damaged by the storm~

TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued a 90-day Emergency Final Order for beaches in 10 coastal counties that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. This order will allow local governments to issue emergency permits in a timely manner for restoration projects within the impacted counties.

“Our goal continues to be to protect, restore, and manage Florida’s vital coastal system,” said Danielle Fondren, deputy director of the DEP’s Division of Water Resource Management. “We have issued this Emergency Order to uphold these goals and provide immediate regulatory relief to the counties affected by Hurricane Sandy.”

The order authorizes local governments of Brevard, Broward, Flagler, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties to issue permits for repairs or restoration that must be completed within 90 days of the expiration of the order.

Post-storm assessment of these areas proved that an Emergency Order was necessary because the normal procedures for obtaining the necessary authorizations would not result in sufficiently timely action to address the needs of these counties. Damages from Hurricane Sandy to local beaches include extensive loss of sand, structural damage and dune erosion.

Under the Emergency Order, local governments of these counties are authorized to order the following recovery activities seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line:

• Repair utilities, roads, and beach access points.
• Return sand to the beach and dune system.
• Restore damaged dune system.
• Repair surviving beach/dune walkovers
• Remove safety hazards and prevent further damage or collapse of foundations.
• Repair or replace minor ancillary structures and service utilities associated with existing habitable structure.

For more information on activities authorized by the order, the Department’s Beaches and Coastal Systems Program has developed a Sandy Public Information Handout which can be found at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/publications/storms/sandy/2012-public-info-sandy.pdf.

About the Department's Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems

Florida’s beach and dune system acts as the first line of defense during hurricane season. Beach nourishment significantly reduces damage to structures by increasing their distance from the shoreline and providing a buffer to dissipate possible wave energy. Wide sandy beaches reduce the impacts of storm surge and provide wave attenuation reducing structural damage.  Since 1999, Florida has invested almost $350 million to restore Florida’s shoreline, and to date, more than 208.6 miles of beach has been restored and maintained through the state program. To learn more about the state’s beach and coastal protection efforts visit www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/59d879