Eroded Destin properties likely to 'get hammered' as city prepares for landfall (UPDATED with PHOTOS)

Destin is battening down the hatches as a recently downgraded Tropical Storm Ida rolls toward the coast.

On Monday morning, City Manager Greg Kisela said on the whole “we should be in pretty good shape.”

But with Ida’s arrival corresponding with high tide, eroded portions of Holiday Isle will likely bear the brunt of the damage.

“We’ve heard the crying, but we are really gonna hear the crying now. But there’s nothing we can do for them now. They are gonna get hammered,” he said.

Hurricane expert Jeff Masters seemed to concur in his 6 p.m. report: "A large stretch of coast will be subject to very high water levels for an extended period of time today and tomorrow, with battering waves on top of the surge likely to cause a significant coastal erosion event," he wrote in his blog at Weather Underground.

JJ Chambers, a full-time resident and board member of Destin Pointe, said the property is expecting “major damage” from the storm.

“We seem to be something that is the poor second cousin with no attention at all. I am amazed that we are basically gonna be sacrificed here as over six or seven bureaucracies fight over who’s gonna do what.”

Chambers said he expects the property’s internal road and pool house to be at risk.

Destin Pointe and neighboring Jetty East both took damage during relatively weak brushes with hurricanes in 2008 when Gustav and Ike raked the coast. Ike caused hundred of thousands of dollars in damage to both properties.

“We never recovered from any of those things. Ironically, the best we can hope for is if we get straight on waves, it pushes sand toward us,” Cambers said. “Other than that we are dead in the water so to speak.”

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To read the latest from the storm, click here.

To read more about closures in Destin, click here.

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Meanwhile in other parts of Destin, Public Works crews were busy securing facilities in advance of the storm.
All Okaloosa County schools were to be closed on Tuesday, and Destin City Hall is releasing its employees at 3 p.m. Monday to secure their private property.

“Right now, since Wednesday is a holiday we are probably not going to bring everybody back in until Thursday,” Kisela said. “But maintenance crews will be in around noon for debris clean up and we’ll go from there.”

Kisela said Destin residents should not to put their garbage cans out as Tuesday morning garbage pickup has been canceled.

Below is a statement from the city of Destin to its residents. 

DESTIN PREPARES FOR TROPICAL STORM IDA

The city of Destin is preparing for anticipated severe weather due to Tropical Storm Ida’s impending arrival.  Currently this is the information we can provide you:
 
"FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER….A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM GRAND ISLE LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE AUCILLA RIVER FLORIDA...INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.  A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS."
 
City crews are preparing all City facilities for the storm.  They are removing all flag poles, signs and garbage cans from beach accesses.  
 
Garbage will be collected all regularly-scheduled residential and commercial garbage routes today, Monday November 9th.  However, there will be no garbage  collection for Tuesday, November 10th.  Residents are asked not put any additional yard waste or other debris curbside until the storm has passed.   Make sure you secure your refuse container, outside yard furniture and other outside items prior to the arrival of the storm. 
 
On Tuesday afternoon, Public Service crews will conduct a sweep of the city to determine damage.
 
All City Recreation and Destin Community Center events and activities for Monday have been canceled, except for Kids Klub Monday afternoon. 
 
All recreation events will resume on Thursday, at their regularly scheduled time.  (The City will observe Veteran’s Day Holiday on Wednesday.)
 
The Destin Library will close Monday, November 9th, at 3:00 p.m. and will reopen on Thursday morning at its regularly scheduled time.  (The City will observe Veteran’s Day Holiday on Wednesday.
 
Voluntary evacuation begins immediately. Evacuation includes all coastal areas, all barrier islands, trailer parks, campgrounds and flood-prone areas.
 
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners has declared a Local State of Emergency. This document is to provide Emergency Management the ability to purchase emergency supplies, to become eligible for FEMA assistance if needed, and other procedural abilities.
 
The City urges all residents in low-lying areas to take precautions early as Tropical Storm Ida approaches.  Sandbags may be purchased at local hardware stores and all residents are encouraged to monitor the storm.
 
The Okaloosa County Board of Okaloosa County public schools will be closed Tuesday, November 10.
 
Davidson Middle School in Crestview will open as a shelter today, Monday, at 6:00 p.m. Special needs patients will be accepted at Davidson on a first-come, first-served basis with limited space available. Shelters should be considered a last resort for those patients and should only be used by those with no family help available or who are living in unsafe structures.
 
The City of Destin is monitoring the storm and the Okaloosa County Citizens Information Line is 311 within the county and 423-4894.