WILBUR-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — Nicole battered Florida's east coast last week, leaving communities devastated as homes and buildings collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean. Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis is working with state and local officials to create a response and recovery plan.
The governor visited Volusia County on Friday where beachside homes in Wilbur-by-the-Sea were washed away by storm surge from the Category 1 hurricane.
Dozens of homes and buildings along the beach were deemed structurally unsafe even before the storm rolled in, according to a video posted Wednesday by Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. At least six beachside homes collapsed but no injuries were reported.
In another video posted by the sheriff's office, neighbors and deputies stepped in to help homeowner Nina Lavigna salvage what was left of her home. They can be seen carrying photos, artwork and photos from the rubble.
Lavigna has lived in the home for more than 30 years since her husband passed, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
“Thirty-three years of memorabilia, things that I got from my mother before she passed away and my aunt,” she told the news outlet. “I came back to get my photos, my wedding pictures of my husband, and things that I don’t even know I was trying to get, you just want to save everything. I accumulated these things to save them for the family."
Lavigna reportedly spotted DeSantis as he assessed the damage and pleaded with him to help local residents and rebuild the seawall along the beach.
As part of the response plan, DeSantis said he directed the Department of Environmental Protection to use $20 million for emergency sand replacement.
"Florida’s Atlantic Coast has been hit hard by 2 storms in less than 2 months. Dozens of buildings have been condemned or destroyed by erosion," the governor wrote. "We are committed to restoring our communities and beaches."
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The plan also includes increased law enforcement presence around the beachside homes and businesses. Chitwood reported on Friday that one looter has been arrested so far and his deputies will continue working to secure the area.