ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Two houses are falling into the sea in St. Johns County after last week’s powerful Nor’easter.
The storm also wreaked havoc on Saint Augustine’s beaches, which higher-than-usual tides have swallowed. Many were still underwater -- even at low tide -- Monday afternoon.
Joe Solcz’s house on A1A sits safely on stilts, protected by a strong seawall. He’s not worried about the encroaching tide, but he worries for some of his neighbors.
STORY: Jacksonville grocery stores experience product shortages similar to rest of the country
“Two of my neighbors are about to lose their houses into the ocean, so it’s been rough, to say the least,” Solcz told Action News Jax.
Solcz showed us his neighbors’ homes, which have since been condemned.
Solcz lived through the same devastation. His original house collapsed during hurricane Matthew. Then Irma came in and finished it off, he said.
Solcz says homeowners on A1A need to act fast.
“We need to get repairs done,” he said. “A lot of dirt is missing.”
A spokesperson for St. Johns County told Action News Jax they expect the storm to affect the county’s ongoing dune enhancement and beach renourishment projects. The county said it won’t know the extent of the storm’s impact until crews assess the damage.
Action News Jax asked the county on Monday for updates on the damage. Nobody was available to talk to us.
INVESTIGATES: Jacksonville man quits IT job, makes a living by renting out his cars
“I feel like I’m OK, but I heard 75% of the new dunes are gone, that they just finished a few months ago,” Solcz added.
He doesn’t know what the solution is but says sand dunes aren’t the answer.
©2021 Cox Media Group
