Overheard on The Web: Hurricane Gustav edition

Here is what some people are saying online about stories in the Destin Log.

Hurricane Gustav and Destin — By: Lambo
Gustav did bring one good thing to Destin. All the “Private Beach” signs were destroyed.

By: Lambo
Were any tickets or arrest made for those swimmers entering the water during double red flags? Section 3H of the Okaloosa County ordinance shows swimming during a double red flag is an arrest-able event. When is there going to be enforcement of the rules on the beach?

By: fact checker
“Water from the Gulf of Mexico lapped over U.S. Highway 98 Monday morning, closing an eastbound lane until around 1 p.m..” Actually, there was a couple of hundred feet of highway with standing water which was closed briefly. No water lapping over the highway. I’ve driven through much worse in a thunderstorm. Get the facts straight. Does Jim Cantore work for the Destin Log Web site?

By: nativeborn
I can remember at least TWO separate occasions in years past when that portion of Holiday Isle washed completely through, making an island out of that end of Holiday Isle, right where those condos are.
I’m sick and tired of subsidizing their insurance AND their feeble attempts at sand castle building. Besides, those idiots will wind up only putting more brown sand on top of the brown sand that they’ve already put out there anyway.
Besides, the beach did just fine for the first gazillion years it was here — looooong before we got here and started screwing with it.
The only “beach” renourishment that I’d be willing to subsidize would be for the Air Force to pump enough sand on their portion of the beach between Destin bridge and Beasley Park to build up some high dunes in order to keep Highway 98 from getting washed away again. The eastbound outside lane was getting breached this past weekend during Gustav. Now that would help out the entire population, instead of just helping out a few beach front owners.

By: Sick of you know it alls
And what makes you all the experts on beach renourishment and erosion? Where do you get your “facts” from?

By: Beachykeen
There are not a lot of experts on beach restoration. That’s the problem. Local and state leaders are willing to try unproven methods while wasting millions of tax dollars. One well recognized expert is Dr. Orin Pilkey from Duke University who says restored beaches erode two to 10 times more quickly than those left in a natural state. We need to know the results and risks of beach restoration before we continue to spend millions and millions of tax dollars on unproven methods.

By: Bible Quote
Deuteronomy 27 verse 17: Cursed is the one who moves back the boundary mark of his fellowman.

By: hewhoknowsall
Fact: Beachfront property owners pay a huge chunk of the property taxes collected in Okaloosa County. This is tax levied on owners who don’t live here and don’t impact the infrastructure — schools, roads, services, etc. Also, the out-of-staters who rent these properties pump a ton of pocket change into restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centers and tax money into the local economy which employs thousands of Okaloosa County residents.
Tourism is the No. 1 economic event of the county. Conclusion: For those who are always complaining about the beach condos — if they were not here your taxes would soar and in some cases your jobs would disappear.

By: jeffwerner
Hey, hewhoknows(notmuch): Please explain to the group how beachfront property owners “don’t impact the infrastructure — schools, roads, services, etc.” Do they not drive on the county’s roads to get to their condos? Do they not use our county services (police, fire, parks, etc)?
Who recovers their body when they drown in a rip current they shouldn’t have been swimming in? Who scrapes their bloody remains off 98 when they try and run with the locals and fail miserably? Who arrests their sorry butt when they get too rowdy at one of the local dives? I think you need to rethink your statement. Of the things you mentioned, about the only thing they DON’T use are our schools.

By: nativeborn
I don’t care if they build condos and beach houses out the wazoo. What I do care about is building foolishly past the dune line and smack dab right on the beach — where they don’t belong.
What I do care about is federally subsidizing their insurance — that means we, the taxpayer, pay a portion of their insurance bill.
What I do care about is subsidizing the sand on the beach that we, the taxpayers, paid for and then not allowing said taxpayer on the beach unless we’re a paying customer at one of those condos. The point is we’re already a paying customer because we paid for the darn sand behind their condo in the first place.
What I do care about is the double standard — they want our tax dollars, but not us.
Your facts aren’t exactly factual.

By: straightman
I remember something from science class about 40 years ago. It’s called continental drift. The County Commission doesn’t stand much of a chance of stopping the movement of the oceans and the continents — even if they get assistance from FEMA.
   
By: dondiesel
They need to just put sea walls up, or large concrete walls that extend out into the Gulf 50 yards to build up the sand (like Miami). Just dumping it out there to wash away is a waste of taxpayer money.
   
By: popeis
What in the world did they think would happen? Restored beach sand does not stay put on a regular day let alone a storm day.
Well stupid is as stupid does.

By: navyguy
Okay, what’s the price tag I am going to pay? Even though I live about five miles inland.

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