'Astounding damage' from Nicole reported in Volusia; DeSantis pledges aid to help beaches

The scale of Tropical Storm Nicole's destruction became clearer in recent days as Volusia County officials shared that damage totals exceeded $481 million countywide.

And the damage assessment isn't finished, according to a county news release.

"The Volusia County property appraiser has submitted the initial damage assessment report for Hurricane Nicole, and the numbers are astounding," according to the release. "The dollar figure is over $481 million, already eclipsing Hurricane Ian’s damage of $377 million."

Condominiums make up the largest share of that damage at over $276.8 million, according to a Friday update from the property appraiser.

Governor sees Nicole's destruction: DeSantis directs state to use $20M to for emergency sand placement

The 'backyard is just gone': Officials assessing oceanfront properties devastated by Nicole, trying to help

County and city officials are working to assess the many damaged structures along the coast to determine whether people will be able to return home. The News-Journal asked the county for the number of people displaced from their homes, but that number wasn't immediately available Saturday.

"The county is not able to track the definitive number of residents or visitors that evacuated," county spokesman Kevin Captain said in an email to The News-Journal. "The only information we can provide, at least at this time, is the number of properties that have been damaged."

Officials are still urging people to stay off the coast because conditions are extremely dangerous, with many structures having partially crumbled into the ocean. Even structures that look safe could collapse.

Going to the beach or near the beach could be life-threatening, according to Volusia County government.

"Right now, the ocean is plagued with debris and contaminants that can cause serious harm," according to a news release. "The waves and currents can pull under the strongest of swimmers. Coastal structures – such as piers, walkways and anything else, manufactured or by nature – have also been seriously compromised by the compound impacts of Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole. Officials are working tirelessly to examine the coastal structures’ integrity. Even though a structure may exhibit no visual signs of damage, it does not mean there are no foundational or other underlying problems that may lead to a collapse."

While Ian and Nicole were hurricanes when they hit Florida, they were both downgraded to tropical storms by the time they reached Volusia County.

Here are the individual city damage totals, according to the county government:

• Daytona Beach Shores: $370.3 million

• New Smyrna Beach: $51.1 million

• Daytona Beach: $50 million

• Unincorporated areas: $5.5 million

• Ponce Inlet: $2.6 million

• Port Orange: $1.3 million

• Holly Hill: $452,676

Flagler County reported an estimated $23.7 million in damages as a result of Tropical Storm Nicole, according to a release sent Friday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the coastline in Volusia and Flagler counties on Friday and Saturday and pledged to help the area rebuild.

DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Environment Protection to use $20 million to help local governments address dune and beach erosion from Tropical Storms Ian and Nicole, according to a news release. The funds are set aside for emergency sand placement.

“We will help our coastal communities fully recover from the impacts of Hurricane Nicole,” DeSantis said in the release. "This $20 million will address immediate, emergency needs across several storm-impacted beaches while we work to identify additional funding to replace infrastructure and help the area rebuild.”

He also directed FDEP officials to find more resources to help damaged areas and "called on the Legislature to help secure funding to fully repair impacted beaches and better protect these communities from future storm events," according to the governor's office.

As of 4:35 p.m. Saturday, the chief building official in Daytona Beach Shores had determined that the Twin Towers North and South, which are at 3311 and 3315 S. Atlantic Ave., were safe, and residents were able to return to their properties.

Volusia County released the following list of hotels, condos and single-family homes that are unsafe and have been evacuated. It's unclear when residents will be able to return home:

Tropical Storm Ian 

Daytona Beach Shores

• Hawaiian Inn, 2301 S. Atlantic Ave. (five stories)

• Holiday Inn Express, 3301 S. Atlantic Ave.  (11 stories)

• South Shore Motel, 3225 S. Atlantic Ave. (three stories)

• White Surf Condo, 3555 S. Atlantic Ave. (seven stories)

Tropical Storm Nicole

Daytona Beach Shores

• Castaways Beach Resort, 2043 S. Atlantic Ave. (seven stories)

• Curran Shores North, 3615 S. Atlantic Ave. (two stories)

• Dimucci Tower 14, 3797 S. Atlantic Ave. (seven stories)

• Grande Coquina Condo, 3333 S. Atlantic Ave. (22 stories)

• Flamingo Inn, 2011 S. Atlantic Ave. (three stories)

• Lexington Hotel, 2323 S. Atlantic Ave. (6 stories)

• Marbella Condo, 3343 S. Atlantic Ave. (seven stories)

• Ocean Court, 2315 S. Atlantic Ave. (two stories)

• OPUS Condo, 2071 S. Atlantic Ave. (11 stories)

• Pirates Cove, 3501 S. Atlantic Ave. (seven stories)

• Sanibel condo, 3799 S. Atlantic Ave. (11 stories)

• Sand and Surf, 2535 S. Atlantic Ave. (two stories)

• Sherwin Condo, 2555 S. Atlantic Ave. 19 stories)

• St. Kitts Condominium, 2855 S. Atlantic Ave. (six stories)

• Towers Grande, 2055 S. Atlantic Ave. (15 stories)

• Tropic Shores Resort, 3111 S. Atlantic Ave. (11 stories)

• Sunglow Resort, 3647 S. Atlantic Ave. (10 stories)

• One single-family home

New Smyrna Beach

• Las Brisas Condominiums, 3001 S. Atlantic Ave. (the two easterly oceanfront buildings) (three stories)

• Sea Coast Gardens II Condominiums, 4151 S. Atlantic Ave. (five stories)

• Sea Dunes Sand Dollar, 4305 S. Atlantic Ave. (two stories)

• Sea Dunes Nautilus, 4365 S. Atlantic Ave. (two stories)

• Pieces of Eight, 4375 S. Atlantic Ave. (three stories)

• Three single-family homes

Ponce Inlet

• Ponce Inlet Villas, Building B, 4421 S. Atlantic Ave.

• Racing’s North Turn, 4511 S. Atlantic Ave.

• Seven single-family homes

Wilbur-by-the-Sea

• At least 30 single-family homes

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tropical Storm Nicole damage tally exceeds $481 million in Volusia