FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2004
CONTACT: Leigh Ann Asklar, (850) 245-2112

DEP Assessing Storm Damage Along Florida's Coast

--Hurricane Frances leaves beaches, docks and vessels damaged--

TALLAHASSEE – As communities along Florida’s coast begin assessing damage and rebuilding property after Hurricane Frances, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accelerating regulatory processes to quickly restore docks and piers, remove sunken vessels and clean up beaches.

On Sunday, DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille signed an Emergency Final Order, which provides relief from specific regulatory requirements to minimize environmental hazards and step up restoration, repairs and replacements in areas damaged by the storm.

Department officials are today beginning a three-day flyover to assess beach erosion along Florida’s coast. The assessment will document damages along the east coast from Nassau to Miami-Dade County, and on the west coast from Collier to Pinellas County.

As DEP engineers continue assessing beach impacts, erosion and damage to coastal areas, local governments, businesses and property owners are authorized to conduct certain restoration activities without notice to the Department:

• Repair, restore or replace docks, piers, seawalls, buoys, navigational aids and channel markers to the previous or legally approved condition.
• Remove debris, including sunken vessels, vegetation and structural remains washed into waters, wetlands or uplands by the hurricane.
• Repair public utilities, roads and beach access ramps seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line -- a jurisdictional line for construction and other activities in coastal areas that protects Florida’s beaches and dunes.