Hurricane Noel Threatens Condos

PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 1, 2007— -- Construction crews are in a race against time to save a community that lives along the South Palm Beach beachfront. As hurricane Noel intensified over South Florida, it packed ferocious winds, causing a pounding surf that made a bad situation worse.

Cranes are hauling in blocks of cement, each weighing 6,000 pounds, in hopes of protecting this condominium building and its 15 units from falling into the ocean. Already, the unforgiving seas have taken the front yards right up to Bernie and Cathie Vukelich's sliding glass door.

The couple bought their condo 17 years ago as a place for their family to enjoy the ocean views and easy access to the beach. What used to be their front yard is now flooded with water.

"We had our grandchildren there many times," Bernie said. "I would mow it or have it mowed. We had shrubs all the way around. It was very nice."

The Vukeliches said they felt safe living so close to the ocean because they were protected by a sea wall.

"It's been there since 1959," Bernie said.

And while the sea wall had suffered wear and tear from other storms, nothing prepared them for what happened Monday as the ocean churned under Noel's advance.

"I had noticed earlier in the day that our left corner sea wall was separating from the north side sea wall," Cathie said.

They watched in disbelief as the storm began to tear away at the wall throughout the day, slicing it in half. By nighttime it had been knocked down, and its progression photographed by neighbors.

Cathie Vukelich was awake when the wall fell.

"The next thing I know I hear this loud thud, and I looked and turned the light on and looked out and I said, 'Bernie, wake up, the seawall is gone,'" she said. "It was scary, I mean, because it is nothing we have ever experienced before. I mean, I have experienced the high tides and the high winds. … You have that in Florida and especially when you are right on the water. But for that to happen with the sea wall gone, it was like our security was gone."