Hurricane Cleanup and Marine Salvage in Destin and the Emerald Coast

• Sunken, wrecked and grounded boats: lifting, refloating and removal.
• Debris in canals, harbors and bayous and along docks, seawalls and shorelines, worked from crane barges and work barges.
• Debris on land: excavators and skid steers to clear it, dump trailers to haul it away.
• Damaged docks: tear-outs, repairs and rebuilds.
• Seawalls and bulkheads: inspection with underwater photos and video, repair and replacement.
• Structural assessments of docks, seawalls and foundations after the storm.

Our equipment includes crane barges and work barges, which reach sites that are not accessible by land, plus 100,000 lb excavators, land cranes, mini excavators, skid steers and dump trailers.

Destin, Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Niceville, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, Milton, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and Panama City Beach.

Isaias made landfall near Destin at about 8:30 p.m. CDT on October 9, 2026, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. [nhc.noaa.gov]

Some of the strongest gusts were measured west of Destin: 118 mph at Jay, 117 mph at Oriole Beach and 116 mph at Santa Rosa Sound. [foxweather.com]

Florida gives you time, but not forever. Under Section 823.11, Florida Statutes, the owner of a vessel that a hurricane made derelict is not charged if the event is documented and the vessel is removed or repaired within 45 days after the hurricane has passed over the state. [leg.state.fl.us]

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told owners of storm-derelict vessels they had 45 days to remove them or bring them back to a non-derelict condition, and encouraged owners to hire a salvage company. [myfwc.com]

If you see fuel on the water, report it. Anyone in charge of a vessel must notify the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 immediately after learning of an oil discharge. [epa.gov]

Photograph the boat where it lies, from several angles, before anyone moves it.

• Check the license. A Florida certified contractor may work in any county in the state. [leg.state.fl.us]
• The license number has to appear in every offer, contract and advertisement. Ours is CGC1538377. [leg.state.fl.us]
• During a declared state of emergency, contracting without a license is a third-degree felony in Florida. [leg.state.fl.us]
• Florida's price gouging law covers services needed because of the emergency, inside the declared area, for up to 60 days unless the Governor extends it. A gross jump over the usual price in the 30 days before the declaration is prima facie evidence of an unconscionable price, unless the increase comes from added costs or market trends. [leg.state.fl.us]
• A contractor may not interpret your policy or advise you on coverage, and may not act as your public adjuster unless licensed as one. Call your insurer about coverage. [leg.state.fl.us]
• If a property insurance claim will pay for the repair, Florida requires the contractor to give you a good-faith, itemized estimate of services and materials before you sign the repair agreement. [leg.state.fl.us]

The Governor's Executive Order 26-202 declared a state of emergency on October 6, 2026, covering Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, Escambia and Bay counties among others. [flgov.com]

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's emergency final order for Isaias, signed October 8, 2026, lets owners in the covered counties repair a dock, seawall or other structure that was not completely destroyed back to its legal pre-storm size, shape and place without notifying DEP. Nothing can be enlarged, added or moved. Replacing a structure that was completely destroyed needs a field authorization from DEP or the water management district, unless a standing exemption covers it. The order does not replace federal (Army Corps) or local permits. [floridadep.gov]

Local permits still apply. The City of Destin requires permits for bulkheads, seawalls and marine docks and piers. [cityofdestin.com]

Okaloosa County requires state-certified contractors to register with the county before contracting there; Walton and Bay counties have similar registration steps. [myokaloosa.com]

Escambia, Santa Rosa and unincorporated Okaloosa counties announced curbside storm debris pickup starting Wednesday, October 14. City residents should check with their city. Keep vegetation separate from construction and demolition debris, do not bag it, and pile it on the public right-of-way. Check your county's page for changes. [weartv.com]

Curbside pickup is for debris you can move to the road. Debris in the water, a boat on the bottom and a dock that has to come apart need a marine contractor.