Sea Oats Lost During Hurricane Idalia To Be Replanted In Holmes Beach

HOLMES BEACH, FL — Keep Manatee Beautiful is partnering with the city of Holmes Beach to restore sea oats lost during Hurricane Idalia.

A replanting event will take place Saturday, 8 a.m., to replace sea outs that washed out during the storm, according to a news release.

Up to 50 volunteers are needed that day and will gather at the 52nd Street entrance to Holmes Beach. Tools and supplies for replanting the sea oats will be provided.

“Sand dunes and sea oats are natural barriers against storm surge and they did their job by breaking up the wind and surf and bracing against storm surge,” Jennifer Hoffman, Keep Manatee Beautiful executive director, said. “But large portions of sand dunes and sea oats washed away as tides receded. Holmes Beach officials and I spotted those losses early on and decided to do something about it.”

The organization will lead the volunteer effort this Saturday with a $5,000 financial contribution from the city and direct assistance from the city’s code enforcement division. Volunteers who wish to help can sign up online here.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Aug. 30 in Florida’s Big Bend area with sustained winds of 125 mph, causing severe damage in the area. Only hours before landfall the storm churned in the Gulf west of Tampa Bay, sending a three-foot storm surge inland, flooding many low-lying areas.

Manatee County’s barrier islands of Anna Maria and Longboat Key were slammed with surge and winds. Local infrastructure and property damage were softened by the coast, sand dunes and sea oats — nature's first line of defense against hurricanes and other large storms, the organization said.

“The weather is ideal to come out and help Saturday morning,” Hoffman said. “Those contributing just a few hours of help will get a lot out of this, and I know they’ll find it rewarding.”