Hochul Announces $2M To Babylon During Tour Of Overlook Beach

BABYLON, NY — New York State will give the town of Babylon $2 million for stabilization work at Overlook Beach as part of a package of key resiliency investments to combat shoreline erosion from severe weather driven by climate change.

Gov. Kathy Hochul made the announcement following a tour of Overlook Beach in Babylon, joined by Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, and Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey.

“Long Island communities are all too familiar with the destruction caused by extreme weather,” Hochul said. “In addition to New York’s actions to combat climate change, we are taking action to ensure our communities, homes and infrastructure are resilient and will withstand the coastal storms happening now. I’m committed to continuing our close partnership with the Army Corps and local officials to protect Long Island.”

The projects announced Monday are to help repair shoreline damage and protect communities.

The $2 million to the town of Babylon will come through the Environmental Bond Act to protect existing park infrastructure at the town’s Overlook Beach in Cedar Beach. The beach pavilion and playground are currently in danger of being washed out to sea. The funding will help support the elevation of the pavilion and prevent the playground and other recreational assets from being damaged by future storms and beach erosion.

SEE:

• Storms Causing Crisis At Overlook Beach: Babylon Supervisor
• Babylon Begs Feds For Help As Next Storm Threatens

"Each year we face the dire reality that we will lose more of our shoreline, creating a public safety emergency while also affecting the billions in tourism dollars that are generated by hundreds of thousands of visitors visiting our world-famous beaches and historic villages and landmarks," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. "Governor Hochul’s promise of aggressive action to combat this issue will no doubt assist us in preserving an entire way of life that has personified Long Island for generations."

New York State is also providing $3 million to support additional beach replenishment to more immediately protect eastern Long Island communities such as Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove in partnership with with Suffolk County, Hochul said.

Plus, the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will begin the removal of surface debris from a former Coast Guard Station within Gilgo State Park exposed by erosion following three strong storms earlier this winter. Following the debris removal, State Parks will place approximately 50,000 cubic yards of sand at the park entrance and other access points to be ready to accommodate park visitors by April 1.

In addition, Hochul said she and officials of the State Department of Environmental Conservation continue to urge the Army Corps to issue the required authorization to repair damage to eastern Long Island. Earlier this month, she called for the Army Corps’ expedited approval of the State’s emergency rehabilitation assistance request to help ensure repairs begin immediately to restore coastal resiliency projects that protect public safety and mitigate the severity of future damage. New York has requested expedited repairs by the Army Corps to four coastal projects: the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet; West of Shinnecock Inlet; Fire Island Inlet to Shores Westerly; and Downtown Montauk.

There is high risk that another significant storm will cause additional catastrophic damage in many coastal communities in Suffolk, she said.

"It is much more than restoring the beach. It is about protecting the Ocean Parkway and the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean," Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey said after the tour. "I am happy that NYS and Governor Hochul have committed resources to the stabilization of our Fire Island communities, repair of Overlook Beach, and Gilgo State Park. These steps are essential toward protecting the South Shore and our very way of life."

Earlier this month, Hochul announced a comprehensive resiliency plan to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather and included $435 million in the Executive Budget proposal to help implement the initiatives. Highlights include:

• Creating the ‘Resilient & Ready’ Program to establish a flexible fund to support resiliency efforts for low- and moderate-income homeowners ahead of future storms. The program will enable State Homes and Community Renewal to assist households that experience flood damage to make necessary repairs in the aftermath of storms and will cover the cost of proactive flood mitigation improvements.
• Creating the Blue Buffers Voluntary Buyout Program, with $250 million including in the 2024-25 Executive Budget to encourage buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding. The program will prioritize outreach and education first and then begin identifying voluntary projects based on the level of flood risk, ensuring we protect our communities that are most vulnerable to high water and storm surges.
• Making major investments in statewide disaster response to put more boots on the ground, improve training and preparedness, and address evolving threats as they come.
• Update Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Maps, which are essential to the protection of beaches, dunes, and bluffs that maintain and enhance flood resilience, so that communities and permit applicants quick quickly determine if a property is within a CEHA.

The voter-approved $4.2-billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is helping to support these and many other initiatives, including resilient infrastructure, state officials said.