DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Nearly one month since Hurricane Nicole made landfall in the state, reminders of its devastation are still apparent all along the Atlantic coast.

Kathy and Tony Chen have been doing everything possible to save their home.

The property they retired to was inches away from collapsing into the ocean just a few weeks ago.

“So far, we’ve done about 70 loads of sand,” pointed Kathy towards what used to be her backyard.

Powerful waves and destructive winds have left them in a position they could never have imagined.

The process of trying to create some protection has been challenging.

So far, the couple has spent around $70,000 hauling in trucks of sand to give their property a form of stability.

That number and the expenses will only increase over the next few months.

“Now we just have to wait for the state,” explained Kathy. “For DEP to give us a permit to build a sea wall. That’s the most important thing.”

The Chens applied for a sea wall in 2017 and were told their home didn’t qualify because they weren’t in a vulnerable position.

Now, they’re just hoping the state can see their current situation and expedite the process of granting them a permit.

Contractors have built a temporary wood barrier in the meantime.

“Having been a builder over the years, the decades, this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Tim Hassler with Steven W. Van Aernam, LLC.

The Chens say this situation they’re in has brought a lot of stress and anxiety to them.

FEMA hasn’t declared the county a major disaster, and sea walls aren’t covered under property insurance, so they must come entirely out of their pockets to pay for repairs.

“But looking at this, this has cost us a lot of money,” Kathy said.

At this point, they do not want to rely on the added sand for much longer.

They’re just praying for a sea wall before the next hurricane season comes around.

“We’re just hoping we don’t have to wait too long,” Kathy sighed.