WILBUR-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – Drone video provided by Bridgepoint Global shows the devastation wrought on the beachside community of Wilbur-By-The-Sea after Nicole battered Florida’s east coast causing rapid erosion.
The video taken Thursday shows a palm tree plummeting into the Atlantic Ocean as sand quickly loses its tenuous grip and falls away under the punishing surf.
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Debris from the homes lay scattered on what remains of the shore. Roofs lost shingles, porches lost supports and at least one formerly in-ground pool was snapped in half by the strong surf.
What is left standing appears as though it too could fall into the sea at any moment.
A house located at 4101 S. Atlantic Ave. fell into the ocean Thursday morning and six other homes — or at least a part of them — fell into the ocean.
A man who lives in the area said he witnessed a house tumble into the ocean.
“We were just standing on the beach and a big section of the wall fell over, hit the support beam and it fell in the water. It was pretty frightening,” he said. “We were just checking on our neighbors. It almost doesn’t seem real to see all this, even though you know it’s a possibility living here.”
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said more homes will also be destroyed by beach erosion.
“Just total devastation. And we’re not done yet,” Chitwood said. “We knew earlier in the week that at least 22 of these homes were declared structurally unsafe. It was a matter of what this high tide would do (Thursday) morning and, as you see what it has done, this is going to continue.”