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A dozen Daytona Beach condos, hotels at risk of collapsing ahead of Hurricane Nicole landfall

By FOX 35 News Staff
Published  November 9, 2022 8:29pm EST
Hurricane Nicole
FOX 35 Orlando

Volusia County Sheriff: 'It's not a matter of if something is going to collapse, it's when'

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said he and his deputies are evacuating people who live in condos along the beach because of concerns that the buildings will collapse when the worst of Tropical Storm Nicole hits Florida.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - Volusia County deputies went door to door Wednesday urging Daytona Beach residents to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Nicole's landfall in Florida, which happened on Thursday morning. The system has since weakened back to a tropical storm. 

Deputies said 12 structures are at risk of collapsing after Hurricane Ian left many buildings vulnerable after it ravaged Central Florida. 

"Sadly, it's not a matter of if something is going to collapse, it's when," said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "This is really bad, that's why we had a curfew and a mandatory evacuation."

TRACKING HURRICANE NICOLE: Livestream FOX 35 News for latest forecast and track 

Officials are keeping an eye on 34 buildings in Volusia County that they said could collapse. Deputies are also going door-to-door Wednesday night urging residents to leave the coastline. 

Hurricane Nicole is slated to make landfall in Florida around 1 a.m. Thursday and several parts of Volusia County have already been damaged ahead of the expected severe weather. 

A beach safety building collapsed at Daytona Beach early Wednesday afternoon as high tides contributed to the already eroded eastern coastline.

Building collapses in Daytona Beach as Tropical Storm Nicole impacts Florida

A beachside building has partially collapsed in Daytona Beach, Florida, as the impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole begin to impact eastern Florida.

Hurricane Nicole made landfall in the Bahamas late Wednesday morning with maximum winds up to 70 mph and is expected to make landfall in Florida as a Category 1 storm Thursday morning. 

A seawall also collapsed, crumbling into the ocean in Daytona Beach as Hurricane Nicole bought in powerful waves to the coastline. 

Seawall at Daytona Beach crumbles into ocean due to powerful waves from Tropical Storm Nicole

Powerful waves from Tropical Storm Nicole have broken off parts of the seawall at Daytona Beach ahead of the storm's expected landfall.

Volusia County residents may see wind gusts could be up to 60 mph and rainfall up to 4 inches with coastal flooding and 3-5-feet of storm surge.