Survey teams evaluate beach erosion in Brevard County

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A survey team of local, state and federal employees began documenting the beach erosion along Brevard County’s beaches from Hurricane Matthew on Thursday.

What they find will help determine if the county if eligible for federal grants that could cover much of the more than $20 million needed to repair the battered beaches.

Mike Gerlak’s owns an oceanfront motel on the south beaches was visited by the survey team Thursday.

He said he hopes if funding comes that it’s spread around.

Gerlak said after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, sand was brought in to repair the beaches, but not all parts of the beaches got the same treatment.

“I’m real concerned because this goes down, that our access, our guest access, so that puts us out of business for a longer time,” he said.

Gerlak’s business is closed because guests can’t safely access the motel.

“The erosion damage is significant and in order to help the beach recover both for the upland property owners and for out tourism industry, we try to repair the dunes that were damaged,” said Mike McGarry, of Brevard County Natural Resources.

What kind of help the county could get through FEMA or Federal Shore Protection Funds depends largely on the results of the survey.

Matthew left some of the county’s beached more narrow, but officials said Mother Nature will help fix that as some of the sand is pushed back along the shore.

Cox Media Group