County commissioners are considering a formal request for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assistance as Shore communities face mounting beach erosion and storm recovery costs.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. — Cape May County officials are taking another step toward securing federal assistance to repair beaches and coastal protection systems damaged by September's powerful nor'easter.
The Cape May County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to consider a resolution Tuesday, Oct. 13, asking Gov. Mikie Sherrill to seek assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under a federal emergency rehabilitation program.
The request comes more than two weeks after the storm battered South Jersey's coastline, producing coastal flooding, severe beach erosion and damage to protective dunes in several Shore communities.
Although the immediate emergency has passed, county officials are seeking help with the longer-term work of restoring coastal defenses before additional storms threaten the region.
County Looks to Federal Emergency Program
The proposed resolution, identified as Resolution 573-26, calls for assistance under Public Law 84-99, which gives the Army Corps authority to provide certain emergency flood-control and coastal storm recovery services.
The program can provide assistance with eligible emergency protective work and rehabilitation of qualifying flood-control and shore-protection projects.
However, federal assistance is not automatic.
The Army Corps must determine whether the affected projects qualify, what work is eligible and whether funding is available.
Tuesday's county resolution would begin another step in that process. It would not, by itself, authorize federal construction work or guarantee reimbursement for local storm expenses.
No countywide damage estimate or specific federal funding amount was established in the meeting agenda.
September Storm Left Shoreline Vulnerable
The late-September nor'easter caused significant erosion along portions of the South Jersey coastline, with particularly serious impacts reported in northern barrier-island communities.
Beaches were flattened in some locations, dunes were cut back by pounding surf, and flooding affected streets and low-lying neighborhoods.
North Wildwood experienced coastal flooding and water overtopping its seawall, while other communities faced substantial losses of protective sand.
The damage raised concerns about how well beaches and dunes would withstand additional storms during the fall and winter.
Gov. Sherrill declared a state of emergency for several New Jersey counties, including Atlantic and Cape May, effective Sept. 25.
The emergency declaration was lifted Sept. 29, but the governor acknowledged that shoreline recovery would continue.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has been involved in assessing erosion and coastal protection needs.
Federal Officials Have Already Surveyed Damage
The county's proposed request follows an Oct. 1 visit by federal, state and local officials to inspect storm damage in South Jersey.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew led the tour, which included representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The group visited affected coastal communities in Atlantic and Cape May counties to assess damage and discuss immediate recovery needs and longer-term shoreline protection.
The visit highlighted concerns about the vulnerability of coastal communities that rely on beaches, dunes and other protective structures to reduce flooding and storm damage.
The new county resolution would provide a formal avenue for requesting additional federal involvement in the recovery effort.
Who Pays for Beach Repairs?
Beach replenishment and dune restoration can cost millions of dollars, depending on the amount of sand needed, the extent of erosion and the equipment required.
Many South Jersey beach projects are supported through partnerships involving federal, state and local governments.
However, not every damaged beach qualifies for federal emergency rehabilitation assistance.
Eligibility can depend on whether a beach is part of an authorized shore-protection project, whether required maintenance conditions have been met and whether the storm damage meets federal criteria.
That distinction could be important for Cape May County municipalities seeking help with their recovery costs.
The county has not yet identified which beaches would qualify for assistance under the proposed request.
What Happens Next?
Commissioners are scheduled to consider the resolution during their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon in Cape May Court House.
If approved, the county would ask the governor to pursue federal assistance through the Army Corps' emergency authorities.
Additional assessments and eligibility determinations would be necessary before any federally supported restoration work could proceed.
For Cape May County's coastal communities, the central questions remain how much damage the September storm caused, how quickly protective beaches and dunes can be restored, and how much of the recovery cost will ultimately fall on local taxpayers.
With another coastal storm season approaching, those questions have become increasingly urgent.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
