TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Even with a quiet Atlantic hurricane season coming to a close, Florida’s coastal counties still face damaged and eroded beaches from a busy 2024 season.
And when the Legislature reconvenes in January, local governments will be asking for a big boost in funding for repairing and maintaining Florida’s beaches.
“Our message is that beaches are the economic heartbeat of the state of Florida,” Pepper Uchino, president of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, told POLITICO. “By far, beaches are the most identified part of Florida’s brand.”
A Department of Environmental Protection recovery plan issued earlier this year said local governments are facing $242 million in costs to replace sand eroded in 2024 by hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.
