11/20/05 - Grayton Beach, Seaside, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Evidence of the numerous construction vehicles on the beaches these days.

The photo above shows the installation of “geotubes” - flexible bags filled with sand meant to protect property from storm-driven waves. In the photo below they have been covered with sand to create artificial dunes which will be planted with Sea Oats.

Another method of protection is the installation of “curtain” seawalls, whereby sections of a composite material are driven into the sand about the same depth as can be seen above the sand. They interlock with each other and are anchored by rods drilled back into the sand underneath the house about 50 feet.
This wall cost around $175,000. Around $125,000 worth of sand will be filled and mounded about 2 feet above the top of the wall and then sloped toward the beach at a 2 to 1 slope. Sea Oats will then be planted on the new sand.
This homeowner had already spent around $100,000 since Hurricane Ivan.