Babylon Begs Feds For Help As Next Storm Threatens Overlook Beach

BABYLON, NY — Ten years of putting sand on Overlook Beach, and it's still in danger of washing away this winter.

"Tonight of course we’ve got another major storm coming in. Instead of what’s normally January snowstorm plowing and cleaning up, we’re dealing with coastal flooding and massive erosion," Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said at a news briefing Friday morning with local officials and state and federal representation. "Since 2014 we’ve put a 100 million cubic yards of sand on this and Cedar Beach," he said. "If you come to this spot 24 hours from now … the ocean may be right under this building."

With waves predicted as high as 14 feet, the nearby playground, which was installed a few years ago, is also in danger, he pointed out.

Not only are emergency measures needed in the 15 weeks before Memorial Day, but a long term solution with regular, repeated actions is necessary, he said, calling on the Army Corps of Engineers.

He was joined at the news conference by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, who said all of Long Island — much of which suffered in Wednesday's storm —is coming together to send a very strong message to Washington.

Saladino called on President Joe Biden to put pressure on the Army Corps of Engineers: "Get on the phone and make sure they get us the sand we need. Fortify our beaches right now and every year following to protect what we call home."

Schaffer talked about the way the beach is woven into the fabric of the community, for recreation, for meditation, for successive generations getting jobs at the park or the Salt Shack — and made an admission that brought a laugh from the officials and journalists. "The statute of limitations has expired, so I can say on prom night we broke into Overlook Beach."

But it's not just the culture, Schaffer said, it's about the protection the beaches provide for the communities right behind them.

He said he understood skepticism about fighting Mother Nature, but "As elected officials we’ve got to do everything we can. We have an obligation and responsibility. A lot of tax dollars leave LongIsland and we’ve got to make sure we’re getting our fair share."

Elected state and federal officials are aligned with the towns and counties on the urgency, he said, citing Gov. Kathy Hochul's support and work being done in Washington by Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Andy Garbarino.

No matter what, he vowed a short-term solution would be forthcoming before summer.

"If we can put one blanket down, this beach will be open. We will figure it out," he said.