BRYCEVILLE, Fla. – Construction crews worked through the holiday replacing a the U.S. Highway 301 bridge over Brandy Branch Creek which crumbled last week in the floodwaters of Tropical Storm Debby.
While that's the most visible sign of recovery from the storm, Nassau County officials said the storm damaged other roads and bridges and 68 homes.
The official damage estimate from emergency management officials was more than $3.4 million to private property and about $25,000 to infrastructure outside of the U.S. 301 bridge in Bryceville.
Emergency Operations Director Danny Hinson says the dollar amounts are certain to go up in the coming weeks.
"We still aren't able to collect data in some of these areas because they're still inaccessible," Hinson said.
Hinson says the hardest hit areas are along the St. Marys River, and while the swollen river has started to recede, some of homes are still surrounded by water.
Three boat ramps closed along the river remain closed and Hinson is trying to dissuade boaters from venturing out because there's so much debris in the water.
Over the next couple of days, the county will make its best pitch for federal assistance when officials meet with the Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel.
"That's what this process is, Thursday and Friday, to determine if we qualify for a Presidential declaration and the various types of assistance that is provided," Hinson said.