Charlotte commissioners declare state of emergency after TS Colin

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Charlotte County commissioners voted 4-0 to declare a local state of emergency in response to damage from Tropical Storm Colin on Manasota Key.

The vote took place in a special commissioners meeting organized Friday morning. The storm lashed the shore of Manasota Key, exacerbating flooding and beach erosion issues that have endangered waterfront homes. Some homeowners lost 20 feet of beach in the storm.

“One more good storm and we could have some considerable issues out there,” said Wayne Sallade, Charlotte County director of emergency management. “Simply looking at the homes you can see, they’re on the precipices. The dune is being chewed away underneath these homes.”

The emergency declaration allows the county to appeal to Florida state government to hasten the permitting process for residents to take stopgap measures to save their homes.

Faster permitting is especially critical since hurricane season is only 10 days old, meaning the homes are at further risk in the months ahead, Sallade said.

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