GULF SHORES, Ala. — Even though Tropical Storm Ida lost some of its steam before slamming into the Gulf Coast last Tuesday morning, and physical damage to structures along the beach was at a minimal, there was enough beach erosion to warrant possible federal funds to help replenish what was lost.

According to Mayor Robert Craft, there was more damage in the form of sand lost than was anticipated. Enough to have FEMA come and take a look at the situation.

“There was more loss that what we were expecting. The initial reaction from AEMA (Alabama Emergency Management Agency) based on what we lost along with what Dauphin Island lost, was enough to bring FEMA inspectors down to do a survey,” Craft said. “They feel like there is a good chance that there will be some federal money available for this storm. It would certainly be beneficial.”

The city has just received approval to go forward with beach recovery efforts from hurricanes Ike and Gustav, a process that will begin very soon.

Craft hopes the city can get the worst parts of the beach that were destroyed from previous storms renourished before another hurricane season rolls around.

“We want to get the beach fixed back before we have to go through another hurricane season. Unfortunately Ida hit, and that made it worse, but it did provide us with the ability to convince AEMA and FEMA that we can’t just sit here like we are anymore. It only takes a small storm to make things much more dangerous for us,” Craft said.

According to Mark Acreman, director of Public Works for the city, an estimated 500,000 yards of material was lost from Ida.

“Couple that with over one million yards that we lost with Ike and Gustav combined, we’ve got about one and a half plus million yards of sand that we have lost in the last year and a half,” Acreman said. “It’s a substantial amount of beach loss.”

Acreman said the dollar amounts for that kind of loss is upwards of $15 million. According to Acreman, a rough estimate of the dollar amounts lost from Ida would be around $3.5 million.

“We didn’t really have any damage to any of our buildings, and I haven’t noticed any damage to homes along the beach, but we definitely have some severe erosion problems,” Acreman said.