Question about East coast damage

[hibiscushouse]

Trying to do my little part about Fl's current image re: tourism at the moment.
I have a decent voice on a couple of UK based travel forums and someone has made a broad statement regarding the East coast being so damaged. I want to try to correct that image a bit, but I need input as to which areas are truly in need of significant repairs.
I read comments that the Keys and Miami are just fine ("not a hair out of place" is what I remember reading.)
Can anyone give me a better understanding of what locations will be out of commission for a while. In the form of "north of this location and south of this location"?
It would be great if it could be updated as time goes on as well.

[Brent]

The most severe damage is in Melbourne down to West Palm Beach. That's where Frances and Jeanne hit.

[hibiscushouse]

Thanks.

[depotoo]

The city of palm beach didn't get too much damage - some great hotels there, mostly tree damage.

[Scorpion]

Its mainly extreme Northern Palm Beach county up to Melbourne that got hit hard by Frances and Jeanne.

[Wnghs2007]

Frances hit Daytona Beach pretty hard. But Jeanne did not do as much damage.

[FlaCrabhead]

Jax and St Aug are okay (so far).

Daytona got nailed by Charley, Frances and Jeanne. Lots of old buildings down there that couldn't handle 3 in a row...dunes are mostly gone...not sure about the Main Street and Sunglow piers though....

[drudd1]

Yep, Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach have some problems at this time. There is quite a bit of damage they are working through, but by no means devastated. Availability of lodging may be iffy in the short term, it would be advisable to call some of the hotels and see what is up. Some condos are in serious trouble, so those with time shares should check the status asap before making plans.

[Sanibel]

They are just starting to finally clear the roadside vegetation piles from Sanibel Island here on the SW coast. The town is worried of a tourist dearth due to the hurricane stigma.

I recently went to the beach and found it nice and re-sanded by nature. While the island is still in a major recovery for gutted interiors in the condominiums, it is otherwise nice and the weather is warm and sunny.

The roads are empty - but it is usually like that in september anyway. The town is rushing a schedule to get the island ready for winter season. Those who return will probably find brand-new interiors in the repaired condos. The birds and seashells are all completely normal. If anything, the island is an excellent post-hurricane tour spot...

[hibiscushouse]

Sanibel, you touched on a subject that would be helpful to pass on as well. The condition of the beaches. I had a feeling that Sanibel's beaches would still be really pretty. The sand is so gorgeous there. Good to know they are still nice.
Is there any suitable lodging available on the beaches yet that you know of? Restaurants as well? I mean, once the debris piles are gone, and if there is still some lodging that hasn't been damaged in some of these areas, there are probably some bargains to be had for some tourists. With an added bonus of a more private holiday. Most of the exterior damage and evidence of a hurricane passage will be cleaned up within a month or so in many of these areas. And then the repairs will be focused interiorly. Or is my thinking too generous? These questions apply to both coasts, although I'm not as optimistic with the beach condition on the east coast b/c of the erosion that probably occurred.
Another issue that probably needs to be cleared up is the availability of gasoline and groceries. How's that coming?
And finally, Daytona to New Smyrna....Melbourne to the north end of West Palm. How about the Titusville area? A lot of the British tourists enjoy a visit to the Space Center. Is it open to visitors or is the damage too substantial there?

[Brent]

As far as I know the Space Center is OK. I haven't heard anything about damage although they did have a 124 mph gust during Frances.

[KG4HPN]

I went down and checked New Smyrna Beach out the other day. In the one place I was actually able to access the beach, all the nice white sand we used to enjoy was gone. It was down to the red crushed shell base. Based on news reports I've seen, there may still be some white sand in some areas of the beach, but mostly in dunes up towards A1A. The closer to the water, the likelier (is that a word) that you'll find the crushed shell.

I know that a couple of the favorite beachfront restaurants here in NSB also sustained major damage. Toni & Joe's lost it's sea deck completely but were planning to open up the main restaurant portion later this week, IIRC. The Breakers is in danger of losing their deck, but haven't yet.

On a positive note, it looks like we now have three sandbars, so when the surf is settled, the water chills a bit, and the fall fish runs start there should be some AWESOME surf-fishing off NSB.

-Jet

[greeng13]

send them to charleston!!! (as long as they take taxis or know how to drive on narrow streets)--lol-- after all these scares our tourism industry is hating it as well

[Terry]

Anna Maria Island (south end of Tampa Bay and north of Longboat Key) is fine. Beaches lost some sand, but all is well here. Seas are settling down, water clearing, and fishing is definitely picking up.

Motels and homes are ready for visitors.

(and just had an exceptional meal at Beach Bistro!)

[Floridacaner]

I live in Palm Bay, which is just South of Melbourne and North of Sebastian. Definitely got hit hard by both Frances and Jeanne. Power came back on a lot quicker after Jeanne than Frances (suprised). A lot of trees down in my neighborhood. Almost everyones fence is down, a lot of shingles and roof damage. I have water in my attic due to the missing ridge vent. Definitely not a pretty site anywhere you look. The beaches in Satellite Beach, Indiatlantic and Melbourne Beach were thrashed.

[Doc Seminole]

To be totally honest and as others have said, Daytona Beach has been hit really hard. There is not the destructive looking damage that you may see elsewhere but my home town has been really trashed by these storms. There are very few motels/hotels that did not sustain some sort of damage.... alot of the damage is kind of a natural urban renewal of older places which isn't all bad.

Sunglow and Main Street Piers are ok....... the beach has a natural tendency to come back and it will. Remember this is where Sir Malcolm Campbell made a few speed records! (and I got a ticket or 2 trying to match him ) We still have the beach, though it is a bit flatter, the sun and the sunsets, the races, the 2 Bikeweeks (Biketoberfest coming up) and a whole lot more. Heck.... we could even get your folks a tour bus of hurricane stricken areas.

Daytona Beach looks forward to the London Symphony Orchestra being here next July!!!!!

We've been knocked down but we're not knocked out. May take awhile to make a full recovery but we will. (Well... barring another hurricane this year... sheesh)

Send folks on over...... we'll welcome them with open arms.

Daytona Beach..... only 40 miles from the Orlando/Sanford International Airport!

[Sanibel]

The power is back on sooner because all the trees that fell on the lines were all cut away after Frances.


Beaches and restaurants are fine here on Sanibel. Some condos and B&B's will be slow to re-open due to strected work crews and contractors.

http://www.MySanibel.com


You can take plywood or shingle and cover that ridge vent if you are careful to go under the seam above and over below for the shingle effect. Then seal it with silicone sealer and foam...

[FlaCrabhead]

.... alot of the damage is kind of a natural urban renewal of older places which isn't all bad....

I'm a native of Daytona and was thinking this all along. Many of Daytona's older hotels/motels have been passed down through generations...there's a lot of sentimentality there, yet some are really rat-traps and needed to go. Although I prefer the "Old Style Florida" areas of Sanibel/Captiva to today's concrete condos, Daytona needs a cleansing, a young fresh positive face to bring them up to date, yet protect the main attraction (the beach, not DIS - though that and BikeWeek brings in the $). They could achieve that if they'd get a mayor with that kind of insight. Golden and Asher are/were too out of touch...

I miss the old Daytona...KoolAid and bologna sandwiches on the beach when I was growing up....fun memories slowly giving way to snow birds who want to own it and stop the driving....sigh.

Doc, d'ya'know how the Ocean Deck faired?

[FlaCrabhead]

[quote="Sanibel"]The power is back on sooner because all the trees that fell on the lines were all cut away after Frances.


Beaches and restaurants are fine here on Sanibel. Some condos and B&B's will be slow to re-open due to strected work crews and contractors.

http://www.MySanibel.com

quote]

I followed Sanibel's recovery after Charley through this web site and have the upmost respect for the folks who ran the show when recovery time kicked in! Watched the live broadcasts via internet prior to landfall and for days afterwards. City officials told residents to back-off until each house was checked for safety. Daily posts were up on the site with information about roads, water, phone, etc. There was even a list posted showing which houses/condos/motels suffered damage and to what extent - that way folks who could access it would somewhat know the condition of their place, although they couldn't get to it, and perhaps put their minds at ease. Booklets were printed out and handed to residents once they were let back across the Causeway - inside the books were guidelines for removal & disposals, mail delivery, approved liscensed general contractors, roofing companies, etc. City Hall was open 7 days a week from something like 7am-7pm. From what I gathered, city officals were on the ball and determined to do it right. I was truly impressed!

I drag my family to Sanibel/Captiva every summer for MY recovery! It is an amazing paradise with wonderful residents and such a relaxed, beautiful atmosphere. Coffee on the beach at 6am to watch the sunrise while dolphins swim in the tidal pool out in front of you really makes ya realize how good life is! Glad to hear it's recovering so well!