VILANO BEACH, Fla. -- Some homeowners in Vilano Beach are keeping a close eye on the water, watching for signs of more beach erosion.
Sean McMullen likes waking up to the sound of the ocean. He's lived in his Vilano Beach home for five years, but the view has changed a lot over time. He has a picture of what his home looked like in the 90's before he bought it. In the last few years, massive storms have taken that away, eroding the beach right up to his home. "The waves have gone up over the house," said McMullen.
That's why McMullen and his neighbors spent 80 thousand dollars putting up a rock barrier. When storms hit in 2004, erosion along Vilano Beach was so bad, some homes were in danger of falling into the water. Now with Irene churning in the Atlantic, McMullen says he worries about losing more of his property.
A spokesperson with St. Johns County says they are watching the situation closely and there is always a possibility of erosion. They say beaches are in better shape now than they were several years ago. That's not enough to ease one homeowner's mind. "If we get a category two or three, I'm not confident my house will be here," said McMullen.
Officials in St. Johns County say usually they have the biggest issues when a system sits over the area for a long time. They are still taking precautions though making sure the beach is clean.
