After Nor’easter Devastates Dunes, Brigantine Mayor Calls for Emergency Beach Replenishment

Mayor Vince Sera says north-end dunes were stripped back 10 to 15 feet, waves shook the seawall and Brigantine can't wait until its next scheduled federal beach nourishment in 2029.

BRIGANTINE, N.J. — After watching waves tear apart dunes, damage the Promenade and threaten homes during this weekend's powerful nor’easter, Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera says the city needs emergency beach replenishment rather than waiting until its next scheduled federal project in 2029.

Speaking Monday morning on The Don Williams Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND, Sera described some of the worst flooding Brigantine has experienced since Superstorm Sandy — and said the damage to the city's beaches may prove even more consequential.

“This is probably some of the worst flooding we've seen from Superstorm Sandy,” Sera said.

At the Brigantine circle, Sera estimated water reached approximately knee level, while streets across the island flooded.

“We're very fortunate, nothing in any of the houses,” Sera said. “I know some of the other shore communities had some homes that were flooded and people had to be evacuated, so we really made out well there.”

“I think the biggest issue is the erosion.”

Dunes Eaten Back 10 to 15 Feet

Sera said significant erosion occurred near the Cove and jetty, but his greatest concern during the storm was at the north end near the Promenade.

“On the very end of the Promenade, the dunes ate back probably about 10 to 15 feet,” Sera said.

At one point, officials feared the ocean could make its way around the end of the protective structure.

“We really thought that the ocean was going to come around the end of the Promenade and into the streets,” Sera said.

According to Sera, one of the last defenses at that location was a retention wall installed by a private homeowner.

“The only thing holding back the waves was this retention wall that a homeowner had,” Sera said.

He watched as waves repeatedly crashed against it.

“I told her, I said, whoever built this retention wall did an amazing job because I would see the waves smash into it,” Sera said. “The wall would buckle like it was going to break. And then it would just go right back into place.”

“And this thing survived the entire storm.”

Sera said the city remained in contact with the governor's office during the storm and sent state officials photographs and video documenting conditions.

“We were concerned if it breached, there'd be a lot of issues with the homes and infrastructure there,” Sera said.

‘I've Never Felt the Ocean So Powerful’

The storm also damaged Brigantine's Promenade.

Sera said the city lost railings and boards along with three to four access ramps.

One ramp was torn away and carried down the shoreline before being recovered around 16th Street.

“We actually picked that back up,” Sera said. “It floated down to about 16th Street and we picked it up and Public Works has it.”

“It's probably broken into about three pieces.”

Sera said the ramp had been secured with large bolts and hurricane straps.

“You can see where the straps and the bolts just broke clean off,” he said.

Then came perhaps his most striking description of the storm.

“I've never felt the ocean so powerful in my life,” Sera said.

“As I was standing on the seawall and the waves were hitting it, it was literally shaking the seawall,” he said. “And you see how much concrete and how thick that is. It was just shaking it.”

“It was an intense storm.”

Despite that damage, Sera believes the Promenade and seawall did exactly what they were intended to do.

“We lost some of the railings, some of the boards, we lost three to four ramps, but it's really superficial compared to the damage that we would have had if that Promenade wasn't in place,” he said.

“We can replace all that.”

Brigantine Wants Emergency Beach Replenishment

The damage now creates a potentially serious problem for Brigantine.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' federal Coastal Storm Risk Management Project protects approximately 1.8 miles along the northern third of Brigantine with a constructed dune and beach berm.

The project is normally renourished on a six-year cycle, subject to federal funding.

The last periodic nourishment was completed in September 2023, when approximately 850,000 cubic yards of sand were placed on Brigantine's beaches.

That puts the next regular nourishment cycle in 2029.

Sera says Brigantine cannot wait that long following this storm.

“The dune system is our first line of protection,” Sera said. “And I would say where we have a very strong dune system on the island, the homes and infrastructure in that area were all protected.”

“Our next beach replenishment isn't until 2029, but we definitely need an emergency beach replenishment.”

Sera said Brigantine had already been pursuing additional protection for the north end before this weekend's nor’easter.

“We've been trying for this for about a year,” he said.

Seawall Extension Already in the Works

The city's longer-term plan includes extending the existing north-end seawall approximately 275 feet farther north.

That proposal predates this weekend's storm.

Brigantine's flood-mitigation documents have identified a 275-foot northward seawall extension as a city objective, and City Council recently adopted a resolution supporting a federal community-project funding application for the project.

The proposed permanent extension would require additional federal study and approvals before construction.

“We're going to extend that seawall another 275 feet north in order to protect all of the homes that are up there,” Sera said Monday.

The city has also previously discussed a temporary protective system at the north end while pursuing the permanent project.

Sera said the storm reinforced the importance of completing those protections.

“On the very north end of the island, we see a lot of the dunes are gone, but that's where the Promenade and the seawall's in place,” he said.

Federal Assistance Could Be Next

Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency Friday for Atlantic, Cape May and six other New Jersey counties ahead of the nor’easter.

That declaration allowed state agencies and emergency resources to be mobilized.

The next question is whether storm damage ultimately results in additional federal assistance.

Sera said he spoke with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew during the storm and sent him video showing conditions in Brigantine.

“I was on the phone with Congressman Van Drew during the storm, kind of sending him videos and what's happening down here,” Sera said.

“And he's going to have FEMA come in and take a look and survey the area.”

Under the federal disaster process, state and federal officials can conduct preliminary damage assessments before a governor requests a presidential major-disaster declaration. Separately, the Army Corps has emergency authorities that can potentially be used to restore eligible federally authorized coastal storm-risk projects damaged by storms.

No presidential disaster declaration for this storm had been announced as of Monday morning.

Sera said he believes state and federal cooperation will be essential.

“I think it's really going to be a bipartisan effort in order to get this done,” he said.

Roads Flooded, But Brigantine Bridge Stayed Open

Despite extensive flooding, Brigantine never lost its primary connection to the mainland, according to Sera.

“We never closed the bridge,” he said.

Bayshore Avenue, however, became essentially impassable.

“Bayshore Avenue was really not passable because of the flooding,” Sera said. “But you could get down most of Brigantine Boulevard or Brigantine Avenue with the exception of, you know, in the area, the circle is really flooded.”

Sera credited the city's Public Works Department and acting department head Chris Walsh with keeping pumps operating and beginning cleanup immediately after the final flooding tide.

One pump near the boathouse temporarily shut down after running for an extended period, Sera said, but residents noticed water beginning to accumulate and contacted the city.

“We sent Public Works right down and they were able to take care of that pump, get it back on and pump that water out,” Sera said.

Once the last significant tide passed, crews immediately began cleaning up.

“All of our Public Works crews were out there cleaning up and putting the island back together,” Sera said.

Damage Assessment Underway

Sera said he toured Brigantine on Sunday with emergency-management personnel and the city's engineer to assess what needs to be repaired.

The question now is how quickly Brigantine can restore the protection lost during the storm — particularly with hurricane season not yet over.

Sera said the storm demonstrated that the city's existing protective structures worked where they remained intact.

“The dune system is our first line of protection,” he said.

And despite the damage to the Promenade, Sera said replacing boards, railings and ramps is preferable to rebuilding flooded homes and damaged infrastructure.

“It's better to repair that Promenade than have to repair all the homes and city infrastructure that's in that place,” Sera said.

For Brigantine, the immediate cleanup has begun.

The larger challenge may be rebuilding enough beach and dune protection before the next major coastal storm arrives.

Mayor Vince Sera spoke Monday morning on The Don Williams Show on News Talk 1400 and 92.3 WOND. The Don Williams Show airs Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m.