MEXICO BEACH, Fla — So many people visit Mexico Beach, Fla. every year for their white sand beaches, warm Gulf waters and beautiful sunrises or sunsets. There's no denying how picturesque the little beach town is.
But after Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018, the lifeblood of this coast, the dunes, were devastated.
“It was difficult to imagine all of this going away," commented one Mexico Beach resident. "All of what you see from the road to the beach, was basically washed inland."
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted a survey at the beginning of this year on the beach conditions and coastal impacts of Michael. To no surprise, they found major dune erosion in Mexico Beach, which meant the dunes were totally removed and the beach had lowered from the highway that stretches right along the shore.
But recently, crews have been dumping tons of sand to rebuild the beach. The trucks and piles of sand are a sign of hope for many who live here.
“They’ve done a lot of work and I think they’ve done a very good job,” added another local.
“Our beach is our number one draw, said Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey. "That’s why they come here. That's why most of us live here. Keeping [the beach] as well as it can be protected under these conditions, that’s a big plus.”
Cathey says the current project that’s being done on the beaches is almost complete. They’ve even planted thousands of sea oat plants to help the sand stay in its place.
This is just one part of the process to make Mexico Beach and surrounding beach towns what it once was. They're currently finishing up the BERM, which is the horizontal stretch of beach, gradually sloping up the dunes. Think of the berms as nature’s first line of defense for this coastal community. Once these are complete, the dunes can be built up for even more protection.
“It’s like heaven on earth, really, and I’m not just saying that cause I live here,” agreed one couple enjoying a golf card ride down Mexico Beach just before sunset.
It’s that attitude this community has -- such a sense of resiliency even after all they’ve been through.
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