Buried, the barrier islands were sunk under a four-foot layer of sand after Hurricane Helene September 28th. The monstrous amount of sand was blown and carried into the houses, businesses, and streets has completely halted the lives of many residents. “It was a shock to see the big piles of sand up and down the beach,” resident Ed Goodman told Fox News. Many property owners along the beach were devastated by the destruction and the new chore of moving sand from their homes and roads for weeks to come. The city of Madeira Beach over the years has installed sand dunes on the beach, but these mounds ended up hurting more than helping for many. When asked about it, Elizebeth Barret, a long-time business and homeowner on the islands, said, “Those sand dunes they installed didn’t help and caused sand disaster all over beaches.” Barret’s home was plagued with 4 feet of sand all the way around and when asked about the damages She said, “It filled up my bungalow and pool, so I can’t do business and am losing money.” Yet another major issue in this new sand crisis is how heavy and difficult to move it is along with its contamination. “This is like a three-foot snowstorm that doesn’t melt.” Ed Goodman said. Residents have been using shovels to get their homes into traversable shape but are not allowed to put the sand on the beach because it is contaminated with debris and bacteria. This contaminated sand could carry bacteria and re-contaminate the water causing beachgoers to get sick. The damaging bacteria remains present in the sand much longer than in water, which can make it dangerous.