SJ Beaches Pounded By Nor'Easter, But State Officials Are Hopeful For 2016
By David Madden
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Last weekend's nor'easter took out a good chunk of South Jersey beaches, but New Jersey officials suggest repairs could be complete in time for the 2016 tourist season.
Experts say the storm was the strongest to hit beaches since Hurricane Sandy almost 3 years ago.
"In Sea Isle City we lost 60 to 120 feet of horizontal beach with a drop of about 5 feet," Larry Haja with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection told KYW Newsradio. "In Ocean City's southern area, 125 feet of horizontal sloped erosion to two feet in height."
But with little infrastructure damage to speak of, efforts will now turn to fixing those beaches. Tidal action will help, to a point, over the next few months.
"Between Mother Nature and our response efforts post storm as well as the Army Corps' ongoing beach construction projects, I think we're going to be in pretty good shape by next year," Hajna said.