INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — The sugar-white beaches that line the Pinellas County coastline, long a draw for tourists and a foundation of the local economy, have taken a pounding. Back-to-back storms, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, stripped away sand and exposed vulnerabilities that local leaders say have been decades in the making.
“Our beaches are what people come to Florida for,” State Rep. Linda Chaney said. “We have to protect them.”
The storms washed away up to one million cubic yards of sand, Pinellas County Public Works Director Kelli Levy said. For context, the last major renourishment in 2018 added 1.2 million cubic yards to the area’s beaches.
“This level of loss is absolutely dramatic,” Levy said. “And after Hurricane Idalia, our beaches were already five feet lower than they normally would have been.”
Beach renourishment has been stalled for years, tied up in funding and permitting hurdles with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Local leaders say the storms underscore the urgent need for federal support to preserve the coastline.
“Our first and foremost pathway is with our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers,” Levy said. “We’re working to find a way to make this project happen soon — like, really soon.”
The stakes are high for Pinellas County, where tourism is a key economic driver. The beaches are a major draw for visitors, residents, and businesses alike.
“Tourism is our number one economic driver,” said Pinellas County Commission Chairwoman Kathleen Peters. “Our beaches are our best quality asset when it comes to tourism.”
County officials are pushing to expedite emergency permits for a new renourishment project while also exploring backup plans if federal support continues to lag. Levy emphasized that maintaining the beaches is not a one-time effort but an ongoing necessity.
“When you maintain infrastructure, you can’t just do it one time,” Levy said. “This is something that needs periodic maintenance.”
Levy and Peters believe that fully nourished beaches would have significantly reduced the damage caused by Helene and Milton. Some areas, Levy said, are so depleted they’ve been classified as “in the red,” meaning further damage could be catastrophic.
At the municipal level, delays in permitting have frustrated residents. County Administrator Barry Burton said cities must follow FEMA’s detailed process for damage assessments and are working to expedite the issuance of substantial damage letters, a critical step in accessing aid.
“The state has provided additional resources to help municipalities,” Burton said. “We’re almost through inspections now, but we ask for residents’ continued patience.”
As hurricane season continues, local leaders are focused on rebuilding the beaches to protect the community and its economy. Peters said the county is committed to moving forward with or without federal help.
“The county is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that we bring our beaches back,” Peters said. “This isn’t just about protecting the sand; it’s about protecting our properties and our way of life.”
With emergency plans in motion, county leaders hope to restore the beaches before another storm hits — and before the tourism season kicks into high gear.
