Sand dune defense still compromised ahead of hurricane season

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WPMI) — Hurricane season is almost a month away. Last year, we told you that sand dunes, which are the first line of defense against hurricanes, were dwindling in Gulf Shores. City officials were hoping to have them re-nourished ahead of the season, but FEMA has yet to give them funding.

Over the years the city of Gulf Shores monitors their sand loss. When enough sand has washed away, officials send an application to FEMA for a sand renourishment program which consists of an offshore dredge pumping sand to the beach. This typically happens in the winter since it’s a tedious process that takes months.

Last year, the city applied for this after hurricane Sally wiped out sand dunes, but almost a year later they still haven’t gotten the funding.

“The sand dune structure itself that is the mainline of defense for tall the property including not just buildings, the roadways, infrastructure, the utilities and everything,” Grant Brown, the Public Information Officer for Gulf Shores, shared.

“The dune system in Sally held up. It did what it was supposed to do. The storm took away the sand and it lowered that sand dune, but it did not interfere with our roadways. It did not wipe away our utilities. It did not just devastate our infrastructure,” he added.

FEMA pays for 75% of the cost for the sand renourishment and cities, counties, and the state pick up the remaining 25%

This year, with depleted sand dunes ahead of what’s expected to be an active hurricane season, the city took action.

“As far as a game plan, we did do some emergency sand dune recreation. We basically took a bulldozer and pushed some sand up against the property line to have some type of protection zone, but we’re really relying on mother nature to a point to make sure that the sand dunes regenerate and we really need a good season with no storms,” he expressed.

Now Brown says it’s a waiting game to hear back from FEMA. Once permits are in hand, Gulf shores, Orange Beach, and Gulf State Park will work together to renourish the beach at the appropriate time.

Brown also says you can help protect sand dunes by not taking short cuts and walking through dunes. Gaps become potential breaches where sand can wash away.