The Army Corps of Engineers is shoring up dunes in Atlantic City
today to prevent more property damage from winter storms sure to
hit before a more formal replenishment project can be planned
About 30,000 tons of sand was brought in to address dune erosion
from Hurricane Sandy in Atlantic City, as well as Surf City and
Harvey Cedars, Army Corps spokesman Stephen Rochette said. With
the winter’s first nor’easter arriving now, the Army Corps has
not yet finished calculating how much sand was lost from each of
its dozen project sites along the New Jersey coastline during
last week’s storm. Absecon Island was evacuated to protect
residents from flooding as deep as eight feet and wind gusts for
five days – the longest ever. Last year’s evacuation was the
first mandated in history. Island residents are still grappling
with their flood-ravaged homes, particularly those along the bay
in Atlantic City’s Chelsea Heights, Chelsea and Venice Park
neighborhoods.