As I sit here, 20 miles inland from the east coast Florida beaches, I wonder what kind of devastation is taking place over there as Hurricane Matthew passes by.
Here, the wind was howling with gusts of 50-70mph, but we got off easier than originally thought. Â My rental house did not blow away as I had feared. Â We have minor damage in the yard with limbs broken and the fence leaning. Â Now the storm is moving on to the north, and all this wind and rain will eventually die down.
After the three hurricanes in 2004 – Charlie, Frances and Jeanne – I had visited the seashore in New Smyrna Beach to see the damage. Â My husband (at the time) and I ate at Breakers on Flagler Ave. and we could see that the sand was all washed away down along the shore. Â The ocean was coming up around the place, and the beach ramp was under water.
A few days after our visit, the restaurant was condemned for safety issues. Â I remember how the sight of the ocean having taken over the beach was so sad. Â So I am thinking that this time I will find a similar situation. Â The beaches will have to be re-built. Â And what about the sea creatures? How have they fared?
The beaches eventually recovered from the 2004 storms, and they will this time too. Â Once the news crews can get beachside, we’ll be able to see the devastation.
Click here to see photos from Flagler Ave in New Smyrna a few days after Hurricane Matthew.
