Reports from Vero Beach

[PamOKW]

There is also a Howard Johnson's located right at the Tanger Outlet Center. This would be SR-60.

HoJo

The outlet center is located roughly across the street and up only a short way from the mall. Once you hit I-95 (and then FL Turnpike), west is pretty much ranchland until you hit the next coast

I found an address of 82nd Avenue for the Ranchland Mobile Park but it doesn't come up on Mapquest.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Fox news is showing a reporter in Jenson beach. He's able to stand outside now, and showing damage in a trailer park. Certainly, concrete buildings would fair better.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Thanks for posting this info. I have family in Jensen Beach who we spoke with yesterday. They are not directly on the beach (2 mi inland?), and were remaining at home . I appreciate the updates here.

 

[NancyDVC]

I saw pictures on the weather channel of mobile homes that were destroyed in Wabasso (just over the bridge from the DVC resort). It looked pretty bad. I hope that the residents got out safe. The resort should have fared better because of its construction.
There were also pictures of very bad flooding in Vero.
Just heard that they are beginning some clean up in Palm Beach.
And reports of a destroyed mobile home park where they were sending in search and resuce near Palm Bay (further north of Vero).
Hope all is well and folks there stay safe

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Thanks for all the updated info guys. My husband and I really fell in love with the Vero Beach area. All of the people we met were wonderul. My prayers are with them all.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

MSNBC is reporting that the vero beach mayor has said that the power plant is submerged. It's listed in the text on the bottom of the news screen.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Fox just showed a flooded bast western. No shots of Disney Vero resort yet.

 

[PamOKW]

Here's a link to some damage reports (although it's hard to tell what they "mean"). Sexton is the shopping area where the Ocean Grill and Holiday Inn are located. Wabasso State Park is the public beach next to Disney's Vero Resort.

My "guess" for the resort is that the building structures are going to be okay although there could be damage including water damage/sand damage in the buildings. Could mean having to refurnish the resort (at least in part). I think lack of power and water may keep the resort shut for some period of time as well. It's good news that the bridges out to the barrier island seem to be intact. I'm not too sure what will be left of the beach itself. It's also possible that the slides and/or basketball court will need to be redone.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Pam, do you have that link?

Perhaps the beach will be wider, seems like that was a point of complaint for some.

 

[PamOKW]

Ooops sorry. TNRobin has since posted the article

TC Palm INfo

 

[Debbie H]

Ocean Grille was not destroyed, apparently just a rumor!!!

 

[dl443503]

This was just reported in the Palm Beach Post below, with the link to the whole article below it.

"The far-reaching storm left its mark across the region. On Orchid Island, on the beach side of Vero Beach, the landmark driftwood building called the Ocean Grill, with its dramatic chandelier and bar overlooking the ocean, was washed away. And in downtown Vero, the city's wooden boardwalk was simply gone".



http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/.../storm/2004/atlantic/frances/francesmain.html

 

[PamOKW]

I guess we have to wait for folks to get back on the island and to see pictures. This article from the Washington Post (carried in my local paper) says the complete opposite:

"...officials expressed relief that Frances was no Charley,...communities such as Stuart, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach were damaged but not demolished...

For example, in the center of Vero Beach's seaside shopping area, the 60-year-old Ocean Grill and the 75-year-old Driftwood Inn survived the pounding surf virtually unscathed. The wind pulled the plywood off the front windows of Gusto's Italian Cuisine in downtown Stuart but otherwise left the restaurant alone."

I think things are still somewhat confused with lots of rumors flying.

 

[PamOKW]

Error - double post

 

[sgtdisney]

I agree PamOKW, it is confusing. One article says one thing, and then another article says something else. I hope Disney is able to get a report out soon on the condition of the resort.

 

[Gdoody]

Hi Folks - been a long time since I last visited these boards - we moved to Hong Kong right after our last trip to Florida and Vero Beach last year. This weeks events brought me back to check that my favorite place is still intact and everybody is ok.

On TCPalm I have been monitoring feedback from a different forum for the past 24-48 hours - mostly people asking if their property is ok. Apparently some people stayed on the outer barrier islands, and have been phoning reports back to relatives on the mainland. This appears to be where some of the rumours are coming from.

What TCPalm is reporting however is that the Ocean Grill is ok - just submerged under water. Sounds like a rumour started because somebody could not see it.

Also - there is an extensive report on beach erosion from Sebastian Inlet to much further south. Sebastion Inlet had very little beach erosion - Wabasso Beach had 10-14 feet of erosion - including a parking lot that had been undermined.

Some of the links to these stories are here - you may have to sign up - but I tested this group for SPAM - so far they are ok.


http://web.tcpalm.com/tcp/blogs/hurricanefrances/000265.html

TCPALM - 'Substantial' damage to barrier island in Indian River
'Substantial' damage to barrier island in Indian River
By Adam L. Neal staff writer

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Preliminary reports show the county's barrier island sustained "substantial" wind and water damage, but was still less than anticipated before Hurricane Frances made landfall.

Officials started to assess damages to the island, bridges and causeways Sunday, hoping to let residents back on as early as Monday.

The bridges and causeways showed no signs of structural problems, but many buildings — especially those adjacent to the beach — sustained severe cosmetic damage, according to Detective Joe Flescher, sheriff's office spokesman.

"There are a few subdivisions that sustained significant losses," he said. "However, we were unable to get around to all areas because of the large amount of debris blocking roadways."

Historic beach landmarks, such as the Ocean Grille in Sexton Plaza, were not destroyed in spite of rumors, Flescher said.

A dollar amount has not been put on barrier island damages because many areas haven't been inspected.

Initial beach report

• Sebastian Inlet: minor damage
• Ambersand: minor damage
• Treasure Shores Park: Dune recession 8-10 feet. Lifeguard tower and crossover destroyed. Dune breached south of lifeguard tower.
• Golden Sands Park: Dune recession 10-12 feet. Lifeguard stand heavily damaged.
• Wabasso Beach Park: Dune recession 12-15 feet. Boardwalk and lifeguard tower structures destroyed. Parking lot undermined.
• Vero Beach Inn/Sea Quay condos: Dune recession 10-15 feet. Pier destroyed. Building at Sea Quay threatened.
• Conn Beach: Dune recession back to roadway severely undermined.
• Sexton Plaza: Scour all the way back to seawalls loss of 5-6 feet of vertical profile.
• Humiston Beach Park: Dune recession 15-20 feet. Parking lot undermined.
• Porpoise Point: Dune recession 10-20 feet. Loss of profile 5-6 feet. Home at the southeast end of surfside terrace destroyed — foundation collapsed. Dune extensively blown out. Extensive wave washover of dune.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Thanks for the update Gdoody.

I can't believe that the Ocean Grill was UNDER WATER. That just blows my mind away. We really liked that place. All of the knick-knacks were fun to look at.

 

[Beth]

Whew! So glad to hear that things are sounding better than expected.

We haven't had power since yesterday at 3:00 ... I'm checking in from my in-laws' over in Plant City - they're going to feed us! Our place fared fine - just down trees and no power.

Thanks for all the great info, everyone.

 

[PamOKW]

I missed a report on MSNBC -- just caught the end of it. They said the media were allowed out onto the barrier island (where the DVC resort is located) at 11:00 a.m. today. Residents were being allowed back out as of 2:00 p.m. today. I know the wonderful Peggy Fisher who provides the reports about beach conditions around the Disney Resort evacuated last week. When she gets back, I'm sure we'll get detailed information.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Well, with the media out on the island since 11:00 and residents out since 2:00, hopefully we can get some more detailed reports and pictures soon. Your comments about having security in Disney owning the resort and restoring the damage are well taken, thanks for sharing those.