Rep. Smith Asks Feds For Second Look At Bay Head Dune Damage

BAY HEAD – Congressman Chris Smith, R-Ocean, wrote a letter to the Army Corp of Engineers Tuesday requesting that they reassess the beach erosion and dune damage suffered in Bay Head over the winter after FEMA declared Winter Storm Orlena a “major disaster” on April 28.

During a visit in February after Winter Storm Orlena hit, the ACOE determined that the coastal storm wasn’t a qualifying event for full emergency federal funding. To date, no funding has been given to fix the erosion on the beachfront.

“While this declaration offers much needed FEMA support for crucial maintenance repairs, it also provides a new opportunity for the Corps to revisit the significance of this storm and the serious erosion it caused to our beaches, which urgently need sand replenishment—something that is not covered by FEMA,” Smith said in a press release.

During the ACOE’s visit in February, Smith had urged the Army Corps to assess damage at the municipal level instead of gauging the storm’s overall impact to make their determination on Bay Head’s eligibility for funding. Now, with FEMA’s recent decision regarding Orlena, in which they referenced the damage suffered in Ocean County, Smith hopes that the ACOE will take a second look at the situation in Bay Head.

“Therefore, based on the affirmation of the declared devastation to the New Jersey coastline and the release of federal funds to help communities recover, I respectfully request a meeting with you and appropriate staff to explore additional emergency assistance the Corps may offer immediately as well as efforts to secure the planned and now emergent renourishment project and critical mitigation strategies,” Smith said in the letter.