THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220615
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
City officials declared unsafe at least a dozen Sandbridge homes Monday after Hurricane Gordon's brush last week with the oceanfront community.
The most common problem was damaged septic systems, exposed by erosion and battered by Friday's tumultuous surf. Health inspectors said 12 homes were closed because of septic tank problems.
Housing officials said five residences were structurally unsafe. Because the health and housing inspectors compiled reports for separate offices Monday, it wasn't clear whether some homes were tagged because of both septic tank and structure problems.
``It was a pretty busy day for us,'' said Skip Scanlon, a health official. ``We had two folks inspecting through the morning.''
Friday's surging surf damaged or destroyed several large sections of oceanfront sea walls. The Atlantic then clawed at the foundations of homes on Sandfiddler Road, shifting pilings and exposing buried septic tanks.
Some septic tanks were washed away. Other damage ranged from minor septic-line breaks to major structural failures. There was no overall estimate by the city of damage cost.
Owners of unsafe homes were told to close them up and to stay out until the houses are fixed and inspected.
``They have to be secured and stay that way until the owners do something with them,'' said Alex Davis, a housing official. ``Some are structurally unsound, and they will have to have major repairs.''
The minor septic repairs could be done in a few hours with a plumber, Scanlon said.
Major home repairs could require residents to apply for building permits, hire contractors, and submit to future inspections by several city departments.
On Monday, plumbers' vans were already parked outside some of the damaged homes. And prisoners from the city jail, dressed in bright red jump suits, cleared debris strewn by the unusually high tides.
Some homeowners who braved the storm said they would try to rebuild their damaged homes and sea walls. Replacing a bulkhead can cost between $30,000 and $50,000, residents said.
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE GORDON SANDBRIDGE by CNB