Dauphin Island dealt another harsh blow

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. - DAUPHIN ISLAND HIT AGAIN

It didn't have a name, but Tuesday night's storm was strong enough to deal another harsh blow to the west end of Dauphin Island. Once again, water surged over beach front property and flooded the main road.

"It's part of living on a barrier island. Just part of it," Resident Jessica White said.

Maybe so, but on Dauphin Island it doesn't take much, and it happens too often. Just three weeks ago, tropical storm Ida left a similar mess. The clean up done Tuesday afternoon has made the roads somewhat passable, but crews won't get anything really accomplished until they can get rid of all the sand still piled up from Ida.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN

For residents, it's a frustrating repetition.

"Anything is better than nothing and that's what we've got is nothing," resident Ben Spafford said.

In Spafford's eyes protecting the west end is vital, but he says it's nearly impossible to get people to agree on how to do it.

"There's a lot of different things that have been proposed, but none of them are going to make everybody happy," he said.

Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier says mother nature hasn't helped.

"It's just the repetitiveness of the storms that's really got us back on our heels, and the island doesn't have a chance to recoup itself," Collier said.

In recent years, berms, beach renourishment, and other mitigations have been proposed or attempted to save the West End. Mayor Collier says the integrity of this coastline is vital because it protects the Alabama mainland.

"There's a lot at stake here. More than just a few homes on Dauphin Island."

FEDERAL DISASTER

Mayor Collier is hoping for word on a federal disaster declaration for Ida in the next few days. That would provide funds to move the large piles of sand back to the beach.