'Catastrophic' erosion along Pinellas beaches 'Catastrophic' erosion along Pinellas beaches

Updated: Tuesday, June 26 2012 9:52 PM EDT2012-06-27 01:52:20 GMT

Tropical Storm Debby has caused the worst beach erosion in a decade, Pinellas authorities said Tuesday, adding that it's not clear where the money will come from to replace the vanished shores.

Tropical Storm Debby has caused the worst beach erosion in a decade, Pinellas authorities said Tuesday, adding that it's not clear where the money will come from to replace the vanished shores.

Pinellas County beaches ripped apart by Tropical Storm Debby could be patched up in a matter of months. That's if federal disaster funds are approved quickly.

It just so happened that one re-nourishment project in the area around the Bellair Beach Resort was already in place. Debby disrupted that initiative, but because heavy equipment is already out there it should help speed things up if the cards fall correctly.

The county's tourism development council heard the same numbers we reported last week. Debby caused about $20 million in damage to beaches in the Army corps of engineers' re-nourishment program.

That probably opens the door for federal disaster funding, and hopefully it opens it quickly.

"The fact that they're there now, if we can modify that contract with some of these emergency funds, we could get this done in the next few months," said Pinellas County coastal engineer Andy Squires. "If we can't get these emergency funds, then it could be a process of months or a year or so or more, depending on when and how much funding we get."

The amount of sand lost and the cost is still being calculated. This equipment is only around until October, so some sort of decision will have to be made within a matter of weeks.

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Pinellas hopes to move quickly on damaged beaches