Okaloosa County and FEMA Launch $10M West Destin Beach Restoration

The project aims to repair erosion damage from Hurricane Sally in 2020.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:34pm

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A nearly $10 million beach restoration project will begin in west Destin, Florida on March 23. The project, which is 90% funded by FEMA, will dredge over 150,000 cubic yards of sand to restore the beach that was severely eroded by Hurricane Sally in 2020. The restored beach will help protect nearby properties and benefit beachgoers.

Why it matters

The west Destin beach has suffered significant erosion in recent years, especially after Hurricane Sally in 2020. This restoration project is crucial to protecting nearby homes and condos from future storms and erosion, while also preserving an important public beach area for residents and tourists to enjoy.

The details

The beach restoration project will stretch from the jetty to the east side of South Bay by the Gulf Condos. Over 150,000 cubic yards of sand will be dredged and placed on the beach. The project is 90% funded by FEMA, with the remaining 10% coming from Okaloosa County's beach restoration reserves.

  • The project will begin on March 23, 2026.
  • The project is expected to wrap up in its entirety by the end of April 2026.

The players

Okaloosa County

The county government overseeing the beach restoration project in Destin.

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency providing 90% of the funding for the $10 million beach restoration project.

Teresa Hebert

Destin city councilwoman and mayor pro tempore.

City of Destin

The local government collaborating with Okaloosa County and FEMA on the beach restoration efforts.

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What they’re saying

“In 2020, when we lost all of this beach back when Sally hit, it has taken about this long for FEMA to help us get everything together and the county to work with us. So it's really just going to be for generations, it'll be our kids that get to enjoy it.”

— Teresa Hebert, Destin city councilwoman and mayor pro tempore

“One of the qualifications for FEMA is to protect property. So that's the major function of this project is to protect those structures, those condos, those homes from future storms and future erosion. But it's also going to benefit the beachgoers that are going on to enjoy the sand and emerald green waters.”

— Unspecified

What’s next

The beach in west Destin will remain open and accessible to the public during the project, with temporary closures where the sand is actively being placed.

The takeaway

This beach restoration project is a collaborative effort between Okaloosa County, the City of Destin, and FEMA to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sally in 2020 and protect the area's valuable coastal resources for the benefit of both property owners and the public.