Bathtub Reef Beach under state of emergency

HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. -- Bathtub Reef Beach in Martin County is currently closed until further notice.

County officials shut down the beach so crews can bring in 1,600 tons of sand to dump on the beach. The sand will help secure the shoreline from any further damage.

County environmental experts say the shoreline at Bathtub Reef Beach eroded following Tropical Storm Isaac. These efforts now in place will help protect the shoreline from any further damage, according to county officials.

But crews will have to work quickly.

NewsChannel 5 meteorologists say the winds from Tropical Storm Sandy should be felt in our area Thursday night through Saturday morning. But Bathtub Reef Beach is already feeling strong winds Wednesday morning. These winds aren't directly from the storm.

County officials haven't indicated when the beach will reopen.