New York is seeking federal assistance to repair four coastal protection projects damaged by a September nor'easter along Long Island's south shore and in New York City.
Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to submit the request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the governor's announcement. The storm struck Sept. 25-28, causing beach and dune erosion, sand loss and flooding.
The request seeks to restore the projects to their intended protective designs. It does not announce an award of federal money or approval of the requested work.
The four projects are East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet, which includes Rockaway Beach; Jones Inlet to East Rockaway Inlet, which includes Long Beach; Fire Island to Montauk Point; and Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly.
On Oct. 5, the Army Corps invited public sponsors to submit requests for consideration under its rehabilitation program. New York's submission follows that invitation.
DEC is working with New York City, Suffolk County, Long Beach and the towns of Hempstead, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven, Southampton and East Hampton. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is also involved.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said beaches and dunes serve as protective barriers for residents and infrastructure. Restoring sand lost during the storm is intended to help the projects continue providing that protection.
The coastal-project request is separate from Hochul's earlier request that President Donald Trump issue a major disaster declaration for Nassau and Suffolk counties. That declaration would make eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations able to seek assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program.
The FEMA request covers costs such as debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public infrastructure. The governor's announcement identifies roads, bridges, water and wastewater facilities, schools, parks and public buildings among the types of facilities that could qualify.
Both efforts concern damage from the September storm, but they use different federal programs. The Army Corps request focuses on the four coastal risk-management projects; the disaster-declaration request addresses a broader range of public recovery costs in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
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