Posted on February 16, 2021
NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WCTI) — North Topsail Beach is still repairing damage from Hurricane Florence more than two years after the storm struck eastern North Carolina.
This week, workers are restoring sand dunes, using thousands of tons of sand to do so.
The project was put on hold in November, so Town Manager David Gilbride says he’s relieved to see it up and running.
“Where we had engineered the beach in the 75 miles of town, those dunes protected us through Florence, Dorian, Isaias,” he said. “Were they not done that way and had we not engineered that beach, we probably would’ve lost our first row of homes.”
Gilbride says the dunes are essential in protecting residents and their homes from natural disasters. The project is paid for by FEMA and will be put on pause when turtle nesting season begins this spring.
