ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. -- Tropical Storm Isaac may be headed toward the Gulf Coast, but the effects have already been felt in St. Augustine Beach.
About 4 feet of sand was washed out to sea, leaving surfers and beachgoers shocked. You have to hop down just to get to the water, which some have attempted.
"You can see the results with just this small wave that we have coming in. The swells. It doesn't take much to wash it away," Steven Beck said.
The landscape change comes in light of a multi-million dollar renourishment project. Several months ago, the Army Corp of Engineers started pumping 2.1 million cubic yards of sand back onto the shoreline. It's been a long time coming, but some fear Isaac will ruin efforts.
There's no way to tell the full extent of the damage until the storm passes through. In the meantime, locals say they will continue to swim.
"Issac who?" Marc McVay joked.
"It's coming in right now. We're trying to catch it before it fades away," surfer George Johnson said.
The total renourishment project is estimated to cost $16.2 million. We're waiting to hear back from the Mayor of St. Augustine to see what precautions are being taken, if any.
"With a couple of good Nor'easters. Maybe a couple more hurricanes...I mean, millions of dollars down the drain. I don't know," Beck said.
The St. Johns County Road and Bridge Department is providing sandbags to county residents on Tuesday, the 28th rom 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
-536 South Holmes Blvd. in St. Augustine
-Mills Field at 1805 Race Track Road in Saint Johns County
-The Palm Valley Bridge on CR210
Sand and bags are being provided to County residents at no cost. However, residents are asked to supply their own shovels. For more information please call 904.814.2301.
