VILANO BEACH, Fla. — The sun is out and the storm is over, but South Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach will never be the same after Hurricane Matthew.
“This a catastrophe,” said homeowner John Coleman.
Multimillion dollar homes crumbled and were brought to ruin in the blink of an eye, proving no match for hurricane-force wind, rain and storm surge.
“It just sounded like jets going over. Just unbelievable.”
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Many properties along A1A have been deemed unsafe and marked with a bright X. Their foundations have been ripped to shreds and the ocean is visible through exposed stilts.
“The wood piled up over my car,” Coleman said.
Debris is also a problem. There are mounds of concrete, wood and pieces of homes that make the area look more like a war zone than a waterfront oasis.
“Lots of good people’s lives are destroyed now. A lot of good people I know will never live in their homes again,” Coleman said.
Early estimates show St. Johns County sustained at least $2 billion worth of damage.
Cox Media Group
