Hardest hit coastlines to cost $35 million to fix

NAPLES, Fla. Hurricane Irma’s destruction of the Collier County beaches is estimated to cost $35 million to fix.

The hurricane took about 40 percent of the sand from the beaches, with the hardest hit areas being Naples and Marco Island.

The dunes stopped most of the storm surge, but now those need to be repaired.

“It is a bummer, but we will repair and we will work with agencies to produce as much money as we can to help offset the costs,” Collier County Coastal Zone Director Manager Gary McAlpin said.

Collier County’s visitor’s bureau wants to spend $250,000 from its emergency fund to advertise that Collier County is up and running again.

Local leaders don’t know exactly how much of a hit the tourism industry took, but they don’t think it will be as devastating as it could have been.

“September is our slowest month of the year anyway, so yes, there will be some lost but it won’t be like we lost it during high season,” Executive Director of the Collier County visitor bureau Jack Wert said.

In the past, Collier County has recouped about 75 percent of the cost from FEMA.

There is no timeline on when the beach nourishment will happen.