Erosion causes million dollar damages on local beach

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Southern winds are clashing with the northbound Gulf Stream and causing major damage to one South Florida beach.

The strong winds managed to destroy 2,500 feet of sidewalk, road way and beach walls near A1A and Northeast 16th Street on Thursday.

The destructive weather managed to tip over a catamaran near Pompano Beach, where one person on board drowned.

This is the second flood to occur in Fort Lauderdale Beach in two months since hurricane Sandy in November.

One Fort Lauderdale resident, Dan Trudeau, says, "This is amazing. I didn't even notice a storm happening. When it hit, it was just another night of a little high-tide. It's quite bit of a devastation. It looks more like a New England coastline now with the rocks."

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler has called for state, local and county governments to come together to find a permanent solution. "We have to come up with a long-term plan because we have millions of dollars in damage out there now," he said, "and if it fully crosses the road, you're going to see millions of dollars in private property damage."

There is currently only one northbound and one southbound lane open on A1A.

City officials said it can take months to clean up the beach.

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