Federal funding could aid decimated Pinellas beaches

Pinellas County’s critically eroded beaches are now ground zero for a longstanding impasse between the nation’s coastal communities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Kelli Hammer Levy, public works director, said renourishment costs reached about $65 million after Hurricane Idalia brought an over four-foot storm surge to the area in August 2023. Pinellas qualified for federal emergency assistance, which the Army Corps subsequently blocked due to local property owners refusing to sign perpetual easement documents.

However, President Joe Biden and a bevy of federal officials recently toured barrier islands decimated by two hurricanes in less than two weeks. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official told Peters that Hurricane Milton may have provided an easement “workaround.”

“That’s the first time I’ve ever felt optimistic when it comes to the beach renourishment issues,” Peters said Wednesday at a Tourist Development Council meeting. “I’m feeling pretty good about it – I hope we’re not disappointed.”

Peters said Biden called Oct. 9 as Milton approached Tampa Bay. The President said he witnessed similar renourishment hurdles in his home state of Delaware and understood the local conundrum.

An Oct. 13 tour provided federal officials with a visual aid. Hurricane Helene’s storm surge more than doubled Idalia’s, and Milton arrived 12 days later with 100 mph gusts and over a foot of rain.

Levy said the Army Corps was assessing Helene’s damage until Milton negated those efforts. She also noted that a new commander participated in the recent tour.

“This was his first time down here to see what we’re dealing with,” Levy added. “So, I’m very hopeful he’s going to help us navigate what comes next.”

Hurricane Milton negated recovery efforts that began after Hurricane Helene. Image: City of Treasure Island.

The county distributed roughly 1.3 million cubic yards of sand during extensive renourishment projects in 2018. Levy said Pinellas beaches lost nearly the same amount since Idalia, and she is still working to discern Helene and Milton’s impacts.

Levy believes the Army Corps will likely combine the two storms into one disaster assessment since it could not complete a post-Helene survey. County Administrator Barry Burton also noted that federal leadership understood – and pledged to help resolve – local renourishment issues.

“I’ve had optimism shot out from under me before, but we’ve got people’s attention,” Burton said. “So, there is a positive message.”

Stakeholders also have “a lot of work to do,” he added. Levy said recent storms have mostly washed away protective dunes rebuilt hastily after Idalia.

County crews are screening mountains of sand before using it to stabilize seawalls. Levy noted officials opened a collection site for anyone who cannot repurpose the sand on their property.

She urged people to clean excess sand before returning it to the beach. “I’ve seen some piles out there with kitchen cabinets in it – and other stuff,” Levy said.

Cleanup crews accidentally punctured a 50-gallon drum of oil buried in sand on St. Pete Beach. Levy noted that it spilled into the surrounding coastal environment.

“I know it’s hard to stay positive with some of this stuff,” Levy said. “We are down – we are not out. We will be back.”

From left: President Joe Biden; Cathie Perkins, emergency management director for Pinellas County; Commission Chair Kathleen Peters; and Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, discussed storm recovery efforts Oct. 13 in St. Pete Beach. Photo: Pinellas County Government.

County officials plan to resume Pass-a-Grille’s long-awaited renourishment once permits receive approval. Crews are already reincorporating sand blown or washed onto neighboring St. Pete Beach streets back into the project area.

Levy said those efforts are also underway in the City of Treasure Island and adjacent Sunset Beach. She noted the area was “one of the worst hit.”

Peters said she is unsure if the renourishment “workaround” would provide long-term federal funding or if it is a one-time, storm-related solution. However, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna are “working really hard on this.”

Peters also noted that Levy led Sen. Marco Rubio’s staff on a helicopter tour of damaged coastal communities. “I was surprised about that one,” Peters added. “So, we have people working in Washington.”