While Delaware will likely be spared significant impact from Hurricane Florence, state officials took the storm seriously.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) was gearing up to handle a bigger punch from Hurricane Florence before recent forecasts pushed its projected track to the south.
Now, DEMA director AJ Schall said the First State could see a few inches of rain and minor tidal flooding when the storm slams into the Carolinas later this week.
“Very lucky this time, but we can’t forget to tell people to prepare because we still have over two months to go," he said. "The Atlantic is still very active.”
The potential for other storms worries residents of Pickering Beach in Dover.
Pickering Beach residents pitched Gov. John Carney (D) for beach restoration funding when he toured the beach Wednesday.
Gwen North lives there and said Pickering Beach hasn’t had its beach replenished in 17 years. She also points out the beach lost its dune during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
North said she’s afraid her home and those of her neighbors could be lost during a future storm. She also argues the beach plays an important role as a breeding ground for horseshoe crabs.
“I know we’re not the big resorts who pump a lot of money, but money isn’t everything," she said. "You know the environment is important and this is a prime example of care for the environment.”
Heavy rains last weekend led to flood waters and sand covering roads at Pickering Beach.
DNREC officials said they are working on a short-term fix for the beach that calls for trucking sand in. It would cost about $390,000.
