The Myrtle Beach Storm Damage Reduction Project has been temporarily stopped as Hurricane Irma heads towards South Carolina.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District renourishment update, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock has stopped pumping and dredging and is preparing the dredges to be sent to safe harbor.
GLDD is working to get all of the pipes and equipment off the beach by the end of the weekend and will survey the beach prior to evacuating.
“ Safety is the Charleston District’s number one priority ,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini. “ By preparing now, we will ensure that everyone is safely evacuated and that the equipment is safely secured so it won’t cause any damage .”
Post-storm the Corps will perform an initial assessment of the beach to document any sand loss from the project. Once the project is completed, the Corps will survey the beach to asses if there was any significant erosion due to Hurricane Irma during construction.
If erosion did occur, sand replacement would depend on funding and contractor availability. Once the storm has passed, the contractor plans to continue pumping and dredging where the project left off before their orderly shutdown on 8th Ave South, reported the Corps.