Schumer: Army Corps to Study Storm-Protective Measures on Bayside

The following is an announcement from the office of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer: 
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the back bay communities of Nassau County will be included in the major comprehensive study of the East Coast being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Sandy Relief Bill included $20 million for a comprehensive study to address the flood risks of vulnerable coastal populations that were affected by Superstorm Sandy – from Virginia to Maine.  

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‘The need to study flood protections for the bay-front areas of Nassau County and Long Beach Island have been identified by previous Congressional authorizations but never funded and completed, which makes today’s announcement a major first step in putting these communities on a potential path for new federal mitigation measures,” said Schumer. “Storms have repeatedly caused significant flooding throughout the bayfront communities of Long Beach Island, and it is critical that these areas are not ignored by top federal experts as they create plans to avoid future devastation. Residents who live along the Nassau bayside have endured repeated flooding, and I am relieved that, after my push, the Army Corps of Engineers will finally make sure that these bayfront communities are incorporated in the $20 million study that was made possible through the Sandy Relief bill that I fought hard to pass.”

"Storm reduction on our bayside is equally as important as storm reduction on our beachside," said Long Beach City Council President Scott J. Mandel. "This City Council has been lobbying for a bayside coastal protection study, and we are extremely appreciative of Senator Schumer's assistance in securing significant funding for this critical study."

“Storm and flooding protection for back bay communities on Long Island is an area where federal resources need to be dedicated in order to avoid repeated tragedies,” stated Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray.  “Every resident of our back bay communities owes U. S. Senator Charles Schumer a huge debt of gratitude for his victory in persuading the Army Corps of Engineers to include back bay communities in its comprehensive coastal storm protection study.  Thank you Senator Schumer.”

Historically, Nassau County’s back bay communities have endured flooding on numerous occasions. Specifically, after Superstorm Sandy, the City of Long Beach, Village of Island Park, Oceanside, Massapequa, Baldwin, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Five Towns were extensively flooded along the bayfront area.  On the Long Beach barrier island, the ocean met the bay. According to the comprehensive U.S. Geological Survey’s Observed Storm Surge Mapper from October 29th, 2012, it is clear there was storm surge on both the oceanfront and bayfront side of the barrier island.

The Army Corps study is made possible through Schumer’s efforts in the Senate to pass a disaster relief bill for New York residents, and he emphasized that it should include those areas that experienced significant storm surge damage along the Nassau backbay, in addition to communities along the oceanfront area of Long Island and in the New York City harbor.

Schumer said today the Army Corps decided to include Nassau’s back bay in its comprehensive study at the Senator’s request, after many constituents brought these concerns to his attention in the aftermath of Sandy, noting that bay side flooding has been an ongoing issue for Nassau County residents for years.

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