WILBUR-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the allotment of millions in dollars for beach restoration in the state to repair damage caused by hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

That number includes nearly $60 million for beaches in Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties.

Volusia County got the majority of that money, more than $37 million, and county officials said most of that will be used to build back the beaches and replace all the sand and dunes that were washed away by the storms.

While the funds for beach restoration will help homeowners up and down the coastline, it will not go to them directly to offset the cost of repairing their homes.

Diane Hambric says her home in Wilbur-by-the-Sea was spared for the most part, but most of her back porch and back deck area are gone, leaving her home little protection from future storms.

Part of her beachfront home is being held up by newly installed supports to stop the home from crumbling into the ocean, but she worries they won't be enough if another major storm hits..

“I’m very concerned that in the event of another big storm, if we can’t get this done timely, we may have an issue,” said Hambric.

With the next Hurricane season just months away, and sea turtle season beginning in May — which could cause delays in construction once it starts — Hambric said she is in a race against time.

“We really thought we’d be seeing some action, something building, some sort of improvement to what we’ve got going here,” she said. “Sadly, that isn’t the case.”

Every day, Hambric checks her emails and gets on the phone to get the permits she needs approved so repairs to her home can begin. 

“There’s always more and more than we need to provide, which I understand," she said. "The Department of Environmental Protection wants to have all their ducks in a row, but it’s a very frustrating process. It’s very time consuming.” 

Kevin Captain, with Volusia County government, said the county is now waiting on guidelines from the state on how it can use the millions in state funds. 

“Sand placement and dune repair and restoration is where it will be spent,” he said. “Sand will be used to restore the dunes in the areas of greatest need.”

He said it’s unclear exactly when the work will start, and exactly where that work will happen.

Hambric said beach restoration will help, but it won’t cover the cost to repair her seawall and the home that's been in her family for more than 40 years. 

“My children adore it, my granddaughters love it," she said of the home. "It’s something that is worth this amount of pain to get to where we’re whole again."

Captain said Volusia County will have to be selective about where they spend the money to refurbish beaches, because they don't want to build back sand and dunes in areas where it’s just going to be swept back into the sea.

Captain said the county will do survey work and conduct studies on the area before using the money for repairs.