Major progress toward rebuilding Longboat's beaches still far out

One of the most noticeable impacts after the hurricanes was the change in the island’s sand. Hurricane Helene’s storm surge propelled water and, with it, sand from the beaches.

The surge drove some of that sand across the island, packing Gulf of Mexico Drive and many beachfront properties with sand. Some sand went the opposite way as the surge receded, far out into the Gulf and out of the island’s system. 

Overall, though, it was a loss of over 400,000 cubic yards of sand. 

When residents returned to the island following the storms, mounds of sand stood along Gulf of Mexico Drive, and some owners reported a couple feet of sand in front or inside of properties. 

But at the other end of the issue were the impacts on Longboat's beaches. While the town needed sand removed from roads and properties, it now needs sand back on the beaches.

About six months after Helene and Milton, the beaches still appear flatter and a lack of dune protection is one of the key reasons behind that. 

On Nov. 12, 2024, Director of Public Works Charlie Mopps and Al Browder, senior coastal engineer of The Foth Companies, presented an impact analysis to town commissioners. 

Overall, about 643,000 cubic yards of sand eroded from the beach and dunes. That’s about 12 cubic yards of sand per foot of beach that was moved during hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. 

Of that, estimates show 407,300 cubic yards of sand were lost from the storms, with no chance of it returning to the beach system. 

Mopps said the town is working on claiming that loss through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through a Category G claim that covers parks, recreation facilities and beaches. 

If received, the claim could financially assist the town in rebuilding the beaches. 

“Hypothetically, it’s supposed to bring back pre-storm conditions…so right before September 2024,” Mopps said.

The town and its environmental consultants conduct annual beach monitoring surveys to track the annual changes on Longboat’s beach, but also to have background for these types of post-storm claims. 

“We do our physical monitoring survey prior to each storm season, typically June or July, and that way we have a baseline survey so we can compare that,” Mopps said. 

As of April, Mopps said things were still in flux with the FEMA claim, with no major activity expected for another six months. 

Mopps and the town are also considering pursuing additional funds through the state, which could help with a beach improvement project. According to Mopps, the state is reviewing possible funding for impacted areas. 

He hopes this funding could improve the beaches beyond just 2024 losses and build toward what the beaches were in 2021 after the town’s last major beach renourishment. 

The town placed 1 million cubic yards of sand along miles of Longboat Key's beaches during the 2021 renourishment project that cost about $36 million.