Flagler County suffered an estimated $18.8 million in private property damages countywide from Hurricane Milton, and an additional $14 million in damages to just under 11 miles of beachfront, with additional estimates yet to be calculated such as costs to government infrastructure and services, and losses to the federal portion of the beach in Flagler Beach–the 2.6 miles the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just renourished.
All those costs together will raise the total monetary damages significantly. But as far as losses to private residences are concerned, Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord described them as “more than Ian, less than Nicole.” Hurricane Ian struck in September 2022, Hurricane Nicole in November 2022, by which time the county’s dunes had been severely weakened. Dune breaches during Nicole ran up losses due to homes getting flooded.
“This storm did not have dune breaches so we did not have the high impacts of the ocean making it through the dune breaches,” Lord said. With the newly renourished beaches from North 6th Street to the water tower in Flagler Beach, State Road A1A survived Hurricane Milton intact–though it is due for major reconstruction that was scheduled ahead of the renourishment.
Flagler County government had separately rebuilt dunes on 11.4 miles of beaches north of Flagler Beach. Those dunes also did their part, protecting infrastructure, including roads, and houses. Naturally (the word applies literally, as in by the force of nature) the dunes were substantially sacrificed to the storm, as were their predecessor dunes after Hurricanes Matthew and Irma in 2016 and 2017: because of sea rise and intensifying storms, the days are over when the county and its beaches could rely on a natural cycle of dune rebuilding. It must now be done with substantial tax dollars: the segment from south MalaCompra Park to south Washington Oaks Gardens State Park alone cost $3.67 million for 8,350 linear feet of sand, though 75 percent of that was paid through federal funds and the state picked up the remaining 25 percent.
“It’s wonderful when we succeed in protecting the county’s improved property – that’s the goal – even if it feels a little frustrating for everyone to feel like these areas have gone back to square one,” said Coastal Engineering Administrator Ansley Wren-Key in a release issued today. “We are estimating how much sand was lost to the dune system from Hurricane Milton, as that is what FEMA will rebuild as Category B Emergency Berm in the areas determined to be eligible.”
Lord said the $14 million estimate for lost sand is “very unofficial,” and could change.
The Flagler County Engineering Department will work with FEMA to calculate the volume of sand lost and create a report that, in part, will be used to determine areas of eligibility – a process that could take a couple of months. Once reviewed, FEMA will determine how much sand it will provide for the project.
“We will get this work done as quickly as possible. It will be at the county’s discretion where to place the sand,” Wren-Key said. “We can put more sand in areas that are more vulnerable to wash over in the future.”
As for losses to private property, the costs break down as follows:
- Unincorporated Flagler County: $1.56 million
- Beverly Beach: $1.43 million
- Bunnell: $195,830
- Flagler Beach: $10.95 million
- Marineland: no data
- Palm Coast: $4.69 million
The county estimates that Milton generated 145,300 cubic yards of debris from houses and businesses and 43,400 cubic yards of tree and other vegetative debris.
In all, 308 houses were affected countywide, including in Flagler Beach, but with less than 20 percent of structural damage, another 70 had minor damage affecting 20 to 40 percent of the structure, 17 houses had major damage, and 27 are inaccessible.
Local officials are encouraging all affected property owners to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA if they are under-insured or have no insurance. The first step is to register for FEMA assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Early information indicates this registration period is likely to close around December 10. That date is subject to change, so it’s best not to wait.
Registrants will receive notification letters through the United States Postal Service or electronic mail explaining the next steps. Inspectors will contact residents to who have stated they cannot live in their primary residences because of Hurricane Milton damage to schedule an inspection. Financial assistance in the form of funds may be provided to an applicant, or housing may be provided by FEMA.
“Most housing assistance will be money to reimburse lodging expenses, provide help with rent, provide help with home repair, or – in a worst-case scenario – help with home replacement,” Lord said.
In Palm Coast proper, from Oct. 5 to 11, the city’s western areas receiving 13.53 inches, the northwest seeing 12.5 inches, and the southwest receiving a staggering 16.06 inches, according to city officials. These intense rains pushed the city’s wastewater system to its limits, reaching a peak of 17 million gallons daily—far exceeding its 6.8 million gallons daily capacity. The city’s crews distributed 80,000 sand bags between Oct. 6 and 9. The Customer Service team handled nearly 4,000 calls and cases. The City’s Communications team issued 17 news releases, participated in 10 radio interviews, and interacted with over 14,500 residents on social media.
On Saturday, the City’s Utility Department deployed 10 tank trucks to the Woodlands area to remove water from impassable roads. Additional vacuum trucks were also used to clear debris, with efforts continuing to restore safe conditions for all neighborhoods.
Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston praised the dedication of city staff, saying, “Our team has been working around the clock to ensure our city bounces back as quickly as possible. I couldn’t be prouder of the extraordinary efforts our staff have made to keep Palm Coast safe.”
The City will begin storm debris removal on October 16, 2024. Residents are encouraged to place storm debris in the right of way, separating vegetative and construction debris. Bagged debris will be picked up by the regular hauler, FCC, and should be separate from storm debris.
Kat says
We live in the unincorporated area near Washington Oaks and the county was very responsive. We are immensely grateful. We are known as Marineland Acres but in the past, we have been referred to colloquially as Submarineland Acres due to flooding problems. We are in a special taxing district where each property owner is paying over $400 per year for 20 years to pay for the drainage system that was completed last year. This was the first test, and it did well. The retention lake at Bay Park did require pumping out, but the county responded in a timely manner and we did not flood.
CRB says
It’s really nice of you to send out the positive feedback!
I’m not really sure what people expected with all the rain before storm even hit?!?
We again got very lucky especially from what should have happened!!
In 9 yrs being in my house never has the road ever had water over let alone just about knee deep and partially up driveway. For a moment at 430am I panicked like oh crap is it gonna keep comin what should I do but within an hour there was barely water in the swales! It went very quickly!! I was impressed and grateful!
I also know a handful of city employees and personally know them! They worked nine stop from the Sunday before the storm! A few hours of sleep here and there but that was all! Today I talked to one and the progress has been incredible!
I just also don’t think many people understand just how much it takes for a city/ county to be ran!
It’s like if it doesn’t meet their needs in that moment they start placing blame and pointing fingers! Rather than think outside of the box and a few scenarios before snapping back!
It really blows my mind!!!
But again thank you for relaying a positive message!!I am glad you guys are safe and secure!! Hope u have a great evening!!
Deport maga says
Well until the next storm. GOP have collectively said they don’t believe in science or facts. Even though Exxon predicted this in the 1970s and people have known since the 1800s yet we did nothing. Now it’s too late. Prepare to pay more and more for insurance and the endless rebuilding just to keep the status quo if you’re lucky. Should start by electing people with half a brain. Saying racist , ignorant, and known lies should be a disqualification. GOP won’t ban the box but they want a convict to hold the nations highest position interesting no?
CRB says
🤦♀️🤦♀️😂🤦♀️ I can’t!!!
LoumeD says
The climate changes, always. People who think they can control the climate and the weather are (fill in the blank). This is politics not science.
Atwp says
These are totals from reporting residents, the totals are probably much higher. Am sure a lot of residents don’t have insurance, why report damages.
FlaglerLive says
It is precisely those residents with no insurance whom FEMA can help.
Just thinking ahead 🫠 says
So I might as well cancel my homeowners insurance,go on another vacation every year with the $3009. I will save,and depend on the taxpayers to bail me out if I need it ?
I have paid homeowners insurance for decades and never had a claim so I wouldn’t be requiring many taxpayer dollars
FlaglerLive says
FEMA is loaning the money to the uninsured, not granting it.
Common sense is gone says
If there’s no homeowners insurance there can’t be any bank loan or mortgage on the property. Let them get a HELOC and pay the bank back.
Taxpayers shouldn’t be responsible for someone with no debt on the property
Billy says
Palm coast will steal the funds to destroy more woodlands for housing!
Denali says
With this kind of thinking one must wonder how you manage to make it through the day without having a stroke . . .
Ray W, says
I hope this worthy of consideration by homeowners who recently experienced flood damage.
Per a Newsweek article, FEMA may more readily approve a loan after a homeowners’ insurance company denies a claim. It might be better for a homeowner to file a flood damage claim with the insurer, even if the homeowner does not have flood insurance as part of the policy. It is the denial of a claim that may help the homeowner in the long run.
An Allstate spokesperson told Newsweek:
“If an individual does not have a flood policy to cover that damage, the policyholder may file a claim with their insurance company to obtain the necessary paperwork to pursue disaster assistance from the federal government.”
But this information was not the focus on the article. Weiss Ratings, a company described as an “insurance ratings company” recently claimed that many Florida property insurers are denying a high percentage of damage claims.
For example, State Farm Florida Insurance company was alleged to have denied 46.4% of Florida homeowner claims in 2023.
When contacted, a State Farm spokesperson said:
“The cited data on paid claims in Florida is inaccurate, incomplete, and presented in a way that artificially underrepresented payments to our customers. The information is cherry picked to drive an inaccurate message.”
The reporter contacted Mr. Weiss, who said he sourced the data supporting his allegation from an annual statutory financial filing form that State Farm had filed with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Newsweek reporter looked up the filing. Sure enough, State Farm had closed without payment 8,829 of 19,022 claims in 2023, or 46.4%.
I immediately thought of Kim, who used remarkably similar commentary when she rejected data that the the USDA has consistently been collecting for decades as “incomplete”. I wondered if she now, or had at one time, worked as a spokesperson for State Farm’s homeowner’s insurance company.
To be complete, the reporter found a number of reasons why someone’s insurance claim can be denied, such as insufficient or missing information, or missed premium payments, or missed filing deadlines, or fraudulent claims.
And, according to Weiss Ratings, half of Florida’s 40 homeowners’ insurance companies failed to pay on at least 30% of their claims.
This depressing information makes the fact that Florida’s average insurance rate for a $300k home in October 2024 is $5,527 per year, the second highest average rate in the country. Georgia’s average rate for a $300k home is $2,071.
60 Minutes devoted a segment of its September 30th episode to Florida’s insurance problems. It seems that when an assessor inspects a home after a hurricane damage claim is filed, his or her report is sent to the insurance company. The company then alters or deletes some of the data on the report without telling the inspector and then denies or lowers payments to the homeowner. People need to get a copy of the initial assessment from the assessor before it is sent to the insurance company.
Kat says
Thank you for that information. It underscore the importance of getting the original report from the adjuster.