Debby cleanup begins; beaches take a beating

Now that Debby is gone, the real work of cleanup and beach restoration has begun.

As The Herald's Sara Kennedy reports in Thursday's editions, the storm ate away at beaches across the region.

Homeowners, business owners and government officials are evaluating damage that the storm inflicted on the area’s glistening beaches.

Asked how recovery might happen and how long it might take, Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker, put it bluntly: “Under natural conditions, we won’t get it all back, and it’ll take a long time,” he said Wednesday.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is also assessing damage to structures and the beach dune system, and offering assistance.