Dewey Beach suffers little damage from storm
The Cape Region has largely escaped destruction from Hurricane Irene, but much of the beach on the south end of Dewey was washed into the sea. The erosion could not have happened at a more convenient time – Mayor Diane Hanson said she spoke with officials from Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control just before the storm, who said beach replenishment is expected to begin in the fall, possibly as early as the week after Labor Day. “The good lord taketh, and the Army Corps of Engineers giveth back,” Hanson said with a laugh.
Dewey Beach Patrol Capt. Todd Fritchman called Sussex County Department of Corrections, which brought some extra hands to help clear debris on the beach, Aug. 29. “They’re doing a great job,” Fritchman said. “And they get a day at the beach.”
Fritchman said with help from the DOC, beaches would likely be cleared of debris by the end of the day. “We’re ready for a big, productive, economy-boosting weekend,” Fritchman said.
Other than collapsed dune fencing on the beaches and a traffic light that was blown down on Read Street, Dewey Beach suffered little damage from the storm. Hanson sought refuge a mile north of town in Rehoboth Beach. She said she returned to Dewey Beach the morning of Aug. 28. “I didn’t even see a tree branch,” she said.
The town recently completed $900,000 in drainage repairs on Bayard Avenue, an area that has suffered major flooding since the town was incorporated. After the hurricane blew over Sussex County, Bayard Avenue was almost completely dry. “You’d never know we had 12 inches of rain,” Hanson said.
It was the first time police were able to patrol that area of town during a storm, Hanson said. Hurricane Irene put Bayard to the test, she said. “Everybody was happy with the outcome.”
Hanson left the town in control of Police Chief Sam Mackert. According to Mackert, no injuries or significant property damage was reported. Mackert said he had six full-time police officers, one part-time police officer, 14 seasonal police officers and three dispatchers who stayed on duty through the storm.
“The police, the lifeguards and the town staff did a wonderful job of anticipating all of the needs and getting people out of here,” Hanson said. She said police and town staffers went door-to-door handing out fliers and ensuring people were given notice to evacuate. The town staff even stowed garbage cans that had been left exposed by property owners.
Most property owners, Hanson said, came to town before Hurricane Irene hit to board windows and store lawn furniture. “The property owners were extremely responsible. That’s why this morning you see no trash and no broken windows,” Hanson said. “Bottom line, everyone worked really well together.”
