FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 22, 2004
CONTACT: Dee Ann Miller, (850) 245-2112

DEP Launches Website Providing Storm Impact Information

-Coastal mapping information now available on-line-

TALLAHASSEE – Following an unprecedented hurricane season, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today launched a website providing coastal mapping of storm damaged counties. The website can be used by disaster relief personnel, property owners, realtors, insurance agents and coastal planners to assess coastal damage to assist in the recovery process.

“The Department is using state-of-the-art e-tools to manage information, deliver services and increase government efficiency,” said DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “This is another way the agency is stepping up to assist storm disaster relief efforts. Access to accurate, timely data is critical to recovery.”

Video clips and photographs of Florida’s shoreline from spring 2004 and in the aftermath of Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne provide illustrations of beach erosion and damage caused by the four storms.

Teams of DEP engineers and environmental managers assessed erosion along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts following the summer storms. Engineers completed close to 1,000 hours of aerial and ground assessments across 25 coastal counties, shooting 76 hours of video and more than 5,200 still photographs to document hurricane damage to the state’s famed beaches, sandy dunes and coastal communities. Collected data was used to develop the State’s Hurricane Recovery Plan for Florida’s Beach and Dune System.