Hurricane Sandy damage: Palm Beach County proposes $1 million in post-Sandy beach help

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Palm Beach County commissioners must decide whether to tap into emergency reserves to help restore local beaches that were battered by winds and waves from Hurricane Sandy.

Insiders say the county's beaches are in need of about $1 million worth of immediate repairs.

From Tequesta all the way to Boca Raton, the county's beaches endured severe erosion and damaged infrastructure.

If approved, the million dollars would go toward building up protective dunes and fixing structures that were damaged by surging water.

But the county is also waiting to get approved to get federal aid. Overall, county officials say area beaches suffered a total of $20 million worth of damage.

Protecting the beaches is vital for Palm Beach County since they are a huge draw for tourists.

Commissioners will decide whether they will spend the million dollars at a meeting on Dec. 18.

The money would come from the county's contingency fund, which comes from property tax income.