| Hurricane Nicole coverage: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Damage assessment, Part I | Damage assessment, Part II | A1A Reopens |
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result. The line is usually mis-attributed to Albert Einstein. Monday evening, it could justly be attributed to John Tyler–maybe not in so many words, but strikingly close for the man who leads the Florida Department of Transportation’s district that includes Flagler County.
“Putting back what was out there before the storm, we did that after Hurricane Matthew,” Tyler told a special meeting of the Flagler Beach City Commission this evening as he referred to yet again fixing heavily damaged State Road A1A in the wake of Hurricane Nicole. “Yes, we could do that again. But I don’t think we will achieve a different result if we do that again.”
Commissioner Eric Cooley had moments ago stood up from the dais and led a standing ovation for Tyler and his team, many of whom were in the room. The transportation department had secured emergency contractors even as Nicole was attacking the coast last Thursday and started to dump what by today amounted to 1,000 truckloads of sand by today, enabling the agency to reopen A1A Saturday evening, after it was shut down for four days.
But Tyler, a civil engineer by trade–he’s been rising the ranks of DOT since he started as an operations engineer 15 years ago–wasn’t here to get applause, but to caution, to make a suggestion about what’s ahead, and openly to speak words that haven’t been spoken as bluntly before: simply rebuilding the road and moving on to the next storm won’t do.
“This isn’t replenishment. This isn’t restoration,” Tyler said of the sand-dumping operation that’s looked so impressive for the last few days. “This is just what’s necessary to reinforce the shoulders, reinforce the pavement and keep the shoulder from washing away.” In addition to the 1,000 truckloads of sand, 100 truckloads of coquina and granite rock have followed. For all that, the road is “obviously very vulnerable, very fragile.”
He’s all for keeping the community connected with the road, but, he told the commission, “we need to come up with a different plan, in my opinion,” he said. “That’s why I’m here tonight to ask if Flagler Beach, the city of Flagler Beach as well as Flagler County, would like to join with the department to look for a solution that will be much more resilient than what we had before the storms came through.”
The transportation department is leading a task force that had its first brainstorming session last Saturday. It aims to gather around the table federal, state and local regulatory agencies, environmental agencies and organizations, and representatives of the public, to devise a different way of protecting A1A–or moving it. Nothing is off the table, Tyler said afterward in an interview. “I wouldn’t ant to limit the strike team from ruling anything out,” he said. (He was using the oddly pejorative word Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson said should be included in the task force’s name: “A1A Resiliency Strike Team.”)
The department’s approach in 2016 wasn’t really that different: “Let’s find a long term solution!” blared one of its proposals–a 5-mile sea wall south of Flagler Beach. In the immediate aftermath of storms, local and state officials are typically bullish on permanent solutions, until political realities–splintered public opinion, differing philosophies among elected officials, money constraints–reshape proposals no less brutally than the sea can reshape a shoreline.
The invitation to all “regulatory partners,” even the language Tyler used, is a not quite departure for DOT: all those regulatory agencies’ emblems have appeared on past presentations for A1A improvements. But the approach may be somewhat different now. Some walls have been breaking down, Flagler County Engineer Faith al-Khatib said, with more cooperation between agencies than she’s seen in years. After all, DOT’s contractors were on the job this time even as the storm raged. After Matthew, it took more than two months to reopen the road after makeshift repairs.
That’s the cooperation al-Khatib was referring to. It’ll have to be that way if a more durable solution is to be found, because on paper, certain approaches are still at cross-purposes: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is ready to start a beach renourishment program on the 2.6 miles of beach south of the Flagler Beach pier, the parts so often ravaged by storms. But it would not do so if DOT were to build sea walls there, as it has at the north end of Flagler Beach. “I’m hopeful that we can really do work together,” Tyler said, though that may mean DOT dropping more rock revetments below the Corps’ dune reconstruction rather than something like a combination of renourishment and sea walls.
It’s not yet clear whether the task force will meet in public or whether it’ll meet behind closed doors, allowing for public input by a different method. Tyler was non-committal on that score, saying only that public input will be sought. Local officials, like al-Khatib and County Attorney Al Hadeed, see the need for public involvement.
“Yes, it has to be transparent, in the public. They need to be involved in it. They need to know what we’re doing,” al-Khatib said. “We need the elected officials’ support and the public’s support. FDOT in past years, they never forced anything on the community and I’m sure that’s still their attitude–collaboration, working together to do the best thing for the community. And when we met Saturday, that’s their approach to it.”
The alternative won’t benefit DOT anymore than it did five years ago. Al-Khatib recalled how initially, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, DOT proposed, among other ideas, moving A1A to South Central Avenue and building a sea wall longer than 5 miles. The department unveiled those proposals at an open house, without prior involvement by the public or other agencies. The city staunchly opposed both plans. DOT retreated, and eventually returned to what amounted to the definition of insanity: it rebuilt A1A as it was before, with a divider this time, but the same old rock revetments, the same old sand in places, and no meaningful dune reconstruction. The beach kept eroding.
Hadeed projected what he thought would happen: “They’ll form the task force. The stakeholders will get together. They will decide that they need transparency. I believe that they will want to have public input, but they will think about how they will do that so it will be most productive and least least interfering with the achievement of the final product.”
But it’s not as if DOT can reinvent the wheels driving on A1A. It has few options, and they’re the same as those presented in the wake of Matthew: build a seawall. Move one or both lanes of A1A a block over. Leave things as they are (still an option, Tyler said). Renourish the beach. Beyond that, options are likelier to enter fairyland than stay in the doable.
Resistance to sea walls may be waning, providing an opening to DOT’s favored approach. “during Matthew, there was a lot of pushback about what potentially do we do with the road,” Cooley, the city commissioner, said. “Now the citizens said we’re going to do whatever. They’re not concerned about the things that they were holding on to in the past. Now it’s ‘when we’re done with this, we don’t want to have any more problems.’ And so the solutions can be much more dynamic. Because I think a lot of folks that have reservations about potential suggestions, it’s literally eroded away with a beach.”
It’s not clear where Cooley was getting his data on public opinion, other than the temperamental and short-attention gauges of social media. The city commission hasn’t met in regular session to hear public voices since the storm, nor has the county commission, nor, for that matter, has the task force heard the first public reaction to yet-to-be-debated ideas. All that will be ahead. But Cooley is right regarding the sea wall at the north end of town: DOT built it as a “covered” sea wall, with an ample mass of sand forming a dune with vegetation on top.
All of that is gone now (and DOT has no obligation to replace it, exposing the ugly cylinders below) but the wall held, and the road was protected. It may well be the sharpest-standing illustration of what’s ahead for the south end of the city, if residents can bear that better than they can the numbered days of A1A.
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G. Mac says
Exactly Wake up people A1A is gone!!! It doesn’t take an engineer to figure out that there is NO OTHER OPTION but to move A1A to central avenue.
If you don’t like the traffic, move!!! And to the holdout(s) on the dune restoration project SHAME on you and your selfish…
To the the city attorney SHAME ON YOU for not using imminent domain to stop the this . A couple of people have jeopardized ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY
Laurel says
G. Mac: You are unbelievable to tell people, who have lived in their houses for years, “if you don’t like the traffic, move!!!” I’ll bet you do not live on Central Avenue. There would be massive, backed up traffic in people’s front yards, with a very difficult maneuver for them to back out of their own driveways. How kind of you to tell them to move. Clearly, you have no concerns for the access to businesses on the current A1A. I’ll bet you don’t have a business, or home, on A1A either. For you to blame shame on many, shows a lack of “community” interest.
My God, I cannot believe some of the things people say here.
G. Mac says
Ok Laurel……
I WON’T JUSTIFY YOUR COMMENT WITH A RESPONSE!!!
Laurel says
G. Mac: You just did, and all in caps.
G. Mac says
Why are you so angry when someone has a different opinion than yours???
Please pick a fight with someone else….
Peace out!!!
Jimbo99 says
Miami, FL has already done this type of study for a solution. They Dutch were contracted to propose a 14 mile seawall, elevate South Beach in it’s entirety. From what we know about storm surge and the Atlantic Ocean & Intracoastal. I hate to say it, there are folks buying and selling worthless real estate up & down the coastal FL. South & North Daytona Ave might as well be renamed as A1A. that buys some time, the rest of that property is on borrowed time. The impossibility of saving FL’s coastline top to bottom for the entire Peninsula from Alabama to Georgia is fool’s gold. Nobody wants to hear it. FL is going to become just like Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic & Bahamas. Cuba is probably eroding away like FL & every Caribbean Island. It’s one thing to try to pull this off with Flagler County, but Volusia is in trouble too. St John’s, Duval & Nassau counties don’t even need to be direct hits to flood. End of the day, 825 miles of FL coastline, there are intracoastals that would also need a bigger & better seawall. I hate to be the bearer of the bad news, anyone betting against the Atlantic Ocean is a bigger fool than Joe Biden. Well, Biden said he was going to rebuild Ft Myers after Hurricane Ian. Of course we all know that was the uninformed politician in him. He has no clue what this will cost & take to get done, still living in a fantasy world that EV’s are going to save the planet.
https://thenewtropic.com/these-companies-will-profit-from-helping-miami-adapt-to-rising-seas/
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/climate-change-study-says-sea-level-rise-could-cost-miami-dade-32-billion-for-seawall-construction-11201008
https://floridadep.gov/rcp/beaches
Aj says
You call Biden a fool. What should we call Trump? A bigger fool. Don’t forget the 2020 insurrection. He said the election was a fraud. The Democrats stole the 2020 election. How can something be stolen from you, when you don’t have it? Sound like Trump is a bigger fool.
Dennis C Rathsam says
The state is right…I said this before & I,ll say it again….You got to move the street. Its too close to the ocean. All the sand, all the expense, yet mother nature wins every time. Doing the same thing over & over again, when you know it wont work. It didnt work before why do it again? All these home owners had a great run, living across from the beach. That was yesterday…..The ocean is rising, we cant stop that. What we can stop is the lunacy of rebuilding over & over again. Its time for some ideas, for the 21 century.
John says
We are not the first community to face this issue. What has been done elsewhere that has proven to be effective and cost effective?
Michael Cocchiola says
There are no inexpensive or inobtrusive solutions to stop the unstoppable.
James says
The Flagler Beach City Commission having anything to do with making a decision of this magnitude is dangerous. The County is hopefully leading this. Aside from Bryan and Mealy, Flagler Beach is the original gang that can’t shoot straight. Flagler Beach is in deep trouble. Eroding beach, wacky local politics. I’d hate to own one of those A1A businesses. Big changes are coming, and not for the good.
F c basile says
Scary leadership for sure
Dan Marvel says
I think a wise Native American about 250 years said to an Explorer, “Don’t mess with the sand dune.” Since then, that is actually what has happened along the coast line of America. Nature is taking and rebuilding what is “hers.” I watched those pillars being put into the sand several years ago. They worked. Put in more of them. And YES, split State Road A1A, north and south, to lessen the downward pressure on the roadway and its base of sand.
Dusty Kramer says
The company that I work for in Bunnell Florida, Florida Best Block, has a possible answer to the problem that is not a sea wall or doing the same thing over and over. We make erosion control mats in Bunnell that I think would greatly help Flagler Beach and Flagler county with this problem.
Laurel says
Dusty: Thank you for providing a positive idea! I think the county, FDOT and Flagler Beach should look into it!
Bob says
It’s time to employ some creative thinking regarding natures dune destruction, as all attempts since hurricane Floyd in the 90’s have been met with abject failure and embarrassment of public officials! Additionally, allowing a single property owner to hold up a multi-million beach refurbishment project is clearly indicative of the inept leadership of Flagler Beach, and Flagler County! Have the not heard of the powers of eminent domain.
The county and Flagler Beach have been throwing rocks and sand at this problem for 25 years, with nothing but unfavorable results.
I suggest that everyone who sees this post read the attached article, and present it to the city, County, state, as well as the army corps. As it may pose a viable solution to what appears as an ever increasing problem facing not only Flagler County, but also counties to our north and south. Perhaps all 4 affected counties should join forces along with the Federal government to take on this ever growing and relentless problem, requiring a massive undertaking to save our coastline, homes, and businesses. Retreating from the problem as some have suggested (moving A1A) would only be a temporary solution to the ever advancing ocean.
Will submit article in my next post as a stand alone!
Bob says
The use of tetrapods could be a potential solution by creating a man made reef some distance off shore, to disrupt the wave action before reaching the beach, also these structures to be employed in constructing Jettie’s along the shoreline, to further disrupt wave action. Investigation into Japan’s use of tetrapods may be the first step in developing a solution to our erosion issue!
https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/covering-coasts-with-concrete-japan-looks-to-tetrapods-to-battle-elements/
danm50 says
There is NO PLAN A, B OR C. You can’t out engineer forces of nature.
Resident says
Good…the state will not be afraid to make a rational decision for the good of the residents.
Laurel says
Okay, first of all, I don’t see blaming the City of Flagler Beach and Flagler County officials over a road they have no control over, that’s useless. Of course FDOT wants to move A1A to Central Avenue and Daytona Avenue; those moves will remove FDOT from any further responsibility. Meanwhile, busy A1A will plow through single family neighborhoods. What about parking? Meanwhile, the ocean will continue to eat its way west. Good luck with that idea!
I’ll say it again: I’m from South Florida, and that area has Cuba, the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands that act as breakers for South Florida. It also has coral reefs and rock reefs. Beach re-nourishment works there. This area has no such protection. If a seawall is built, there will be no beach.
I believe we need to somehow mimic South Florida when considering protection. Of course we’re not likely to build an island like China (to gain more ocean boundary!) but maybe something like underwater jetties that run parallel to the shore instead of beach jetties that run perpendicular like Marineland. This area is shallow for a great distance out to sea, whereas in South Florida the ocean floor drops off quickly. This may make it feasible to add parallel jetties. Have the underwater jetties marked so larger boats know what to avoid. Also add more artificial reefs, which would be great for fishing too. Fortify A1A. Then, add the beach re-nourishment. Even in the south, they have to re-nourish every so often, but not like here. There is no cheap way out, but something has to break the waves, and moving A1A does not solve the problem for us, but for FDOT only.
Also, continuing to develop in the Hammock is disastrous as these oaks act as barriers to the mainland. Wiping them out is lacking responsible guardianship for our county. Let’s not keep being foolish for the sake of making investors richer.
James says
Would A1A still be scenic if it moves west and you have to drive past the trailer parks of Flagler Beach? Just wondering…
Lance Carroll says
Are you considering the trailer parks along A1A in Beverly Beach and Hammock areas? You know…the ones on scenic A1A today?
Dave says
Finally a State dept head speaks with some logic. Stop replacing sand.
Brian Riehle says
Looks like Mother Nature and the Atlantic Ocean have finally gotten the attention of Flagler County and the FDOT.
Anonymous says
John Tyler was almost saying it, but:
We made a mistake.
A1A north of the pier was not damaged due to the sea wall
A1A south of the pier was damaged due the absence of a sea wall, but a drainage system in the middle of the road (to prevent rain damage!)
Was this a science test where you compare two solutions to figure out which one is better?
Rain can do a lot of damage but compared to the ocean? Does not need a lot of education.
Look also at the north of Flagler where the dolphinarium Marinelands is protected by a wall of huge granite rocks. No damage there and then just north of that (in St. Johns) a levee of sand was washed away.
Let’s admit that we made a big mistake: sand is great to play with in a sandbox or on the beach but to battle the ocean?
Please let’s get educated by solutions in other countries: and yes, it cost a lot of money but we need to see it as a long term investment.