FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Five people will be out of jobs and the downtown Fernandina Beach economy is suffering after the marina took a hard hit during Hurricane Matthew.
Several docks were damaged, including the marina's transient dock, which brings in thousands of tourists during the peak fall season.
“Usually there’s a lot of people out here,” Johnny Paquette said.
It’s quiet near Atlantic Seafood, where Paquette works.
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He said there's normally many tourists dropped off right outside the door.
“It’s kind of a shock it did that much damage,” he said.
Several docks are damaged, walkways are sinking and pieces of metal are sticking out of the breakwater, which rises and falls with the tides.
“Day to day, there’s more damage taking place,” Mayor Johnny Miller said.
Miller said the marina is the first stop for southbound snowbird boaters, who usually arrive Oct. 20.
“We’re the first marina in the state of Florida," he said. "We’re stop No. 1."
He said because of the damage, the marina can't provide the boaters with all the services they need.
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“We can’t provide fuel services to people right now, and that’s a big thing,” he said.
Five people will be laid off Wednesday because of the damage, the harbor manager told Action News Jax.
Human resources is looking for possible reassignments for the workers.
Downtown is also hurting because of the slowdown in business.
“It’s doing a major damage to our economy right now, and all these downtown businesses," Miller said. "It trickles down. We really need to get that place open."
Miller said FEMA will be looking at the damage later this week.
A charter reopened after it was closed for eight days, so some tourists can still be dropped off.
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