ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Ahead of this weekend’s potentially strong storm conditions, some residents along the shore are standing by to see what damage this will do to their beaches.
Meanwhile, emergency management is urging the public to avoid coastal areas during the time of the storm.
Residents hope what they see this weekend doesn’t destroy the progress the county has been making on the beaches.
“I’m just going to bring some furniture and strap it to some of the poles and one of my doors actually whistles when the winds get pretty loud so my wife will have me tape the inside of that,” South Ponte Vedra Beach homeowner Joe Solcz said.
This weekend, Nor’easter-like conditions could bring flooding and beach erosion to coastline communities.
According to a news release from St. Johns County, it’s asking the public to stay safe by avoiding coastal areas.
Saturday through Sunday they’re warning there could be:
- High rip current risks and high surf
- Heavy rainfall
- Potential for significant beach erosion
That last warning comes a month after the county’s Board of Commissioners entered the planning stages for a $22 million project for the South Ponte Vedra renourishment.
MORE | St. Johns County considering $22M dredging project for South Ponte Vedra Beach renourishment
Solcz said he likes the idea for the project but doesn’t think it’d be a permanent fix.
“Honestly you can’t beat Mother Nature. So, I just think it’s going to be a losing battle in the end you know maybe 20 years this all won’t be here,” Solcz said.
Further down A1A in St. Johns County there are several dunes. Solcz said he hopes this weekend’s storms won’t ruin them.
In Summer Haven, where residents are battling beach erosion, Paul Chokota from Flagler County drove up to see how things look now — versus how they’ll look at the end of the weekend.
“The waves just by where those houses are those stick houses and that water there as we walked up…when that water comes up, it comes up,” Chokota said.
In preparation for this weekend, the county is closing beach access gates starting Friday evening, beach driving will be closed to the public from Saturday morning until high tide Sunday, and the ocean pier will close to pedestrian access Saturday morning until Sunday, or when conditions allow.