Bare beaches stripped by storms receive $99m federal lifeline

With just six weeks until Memorial Day, the Jersey Shore is facing a catastrophic beach erosion crisis, with many coastal towns stripped of their sandy shores by recent storms. Avalon, Strathmere and Ocean City are among the hardest hit, with towering cliffs and closed beach paths leaving residents and businesses in a precarious situation.

Beach replenishment funding approved

But there's a glimmer of hope for these struggling communities - $99 million in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been approved to replenish and protect the beaches in Avalon, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Ocean City and Stone Harbor.

For local business owners like Bill Westerman, who runs George's Surfside Grille on Ocean City's boardwalk, the influx of cash couldn't come soon enough. 'Anytime you have that amount of people in the proximity to the business, it's going to help,' he said, noting that without a beach, he doesn't have a business.

New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew has been instrumental in securing this funding, and is pushing for additional resources for other shore points. He recently introduced a bill to create a more permanent funding stream for beach replenishment projects.

The Army Corps of Engineers is now working to expedite the planning process for the beachfill work, including updating designs, conducting surveys, environmental coordination, and advertising contracts. The timing for construction will depend on bids and when the dredging equipment becomes available.