Posted on October 21, 2026
Gov. Mikie Sherrill is seeking emergency federal funding to help restore beaches and dunes severely eroded by September’s powerful nor’easter – the most destructive coastal storm at the Jersey Shore in the last decade.
The Sherrill administration wants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide federal assistance on an expedited basis for eight areas along the 130-mile-long shore hammered by the storm from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28.
“We are working to get our coastal communities every resource they need to recover from the recent nor’easter and replenish the beaches and dunes that protect residents, homes, and businesses,” Sherrill said in a statement announcing the state’s funding request.
The funding request includes areas of the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook in the north to Cape May Inlet in the south.
Sherrill noted that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection quickly completed its damage assessment from the storm, allowing the state to pursue federal storm funding “without delay” to help the shore towns recover.
“My administration will continue working closely with these communities to secure the support they need to remain resilient throughout storm season,” the governor said.
A post-storm assessment by the NJDEP’s Office of Coastal Engineering noted that while many beaches withstood the impacts of the nor’easter, the storm left many areas with heavy erosion caused by waves pounding the beaches, seawalls and dunes.
The nor’easter was considered the worst coastal storm to hit the Jersey Shore in the last 10 years. It caused major beach or dune damage in 10 shore communities, the NJDEP found.
In addition to the 10 areas of major beach damage, another 18 towns sustained moderate erosion. Another 53 areas had minor beach damage, according to the NJDEP.
Overall, the NJDEP found major beach erosion in Atlantic City and Brigantine in Atlantic County, Stone Harbor and North Wildwood in Cape May County, Beach Haven, Holgate, Brant Beach and Bay Head in Ocean County and Sea Bright and Cliffwood Beach in Monmouth County.
“The recent nor’easter has underscored the need for additional improvements, including beach renourishment, to protect our shoreline and strengthen our resilience. Federal leadership and funding are essential to ensuring we have the resources and tools necessary to continue protecting our community,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said in a statement.
Rough surf washed away parts of the protective dune system in some of the communities, leaving steep mini-cliffs in its wake.
The storm also damaged the bulkheads, promenades and beach pathways in some towns.
The Army Corps of Engineers is the federal agency that oversees beach replenishment projects nationwide, including ones this year in the Cape May County communities of Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Strathmere, Avalon and Stone Harbor.
The storm caused significant erosion along Cape May County’s oceanfront and Delaware Bay shorelines, leaving communities more vulnerable as winter approaches. Healthy beaches and dunes are the first line of defense for homes, businesses and roads, county officials said.
State Sen. Michael Testa, whose First Legislative District includes the Cape May County shore towns, said the state simply cannot afford to wait any longer to repair the storm damage.
“The damage we’re seeing in our South Jersey shore communities is devastating, and it’s clear that we need all hands on deck to restore our beaches and protect these communities,” Testa said in a statement.
Testa emphasized that the state and federal government must work together – “all pulling in the same direction to get our beaches replenished so our residents and their homes are protected and our tourism industry stays robust.”
Earlier, the Cape May County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution formally requesting Sherrill to seek federal assistance for beach and dune restoration.
“Our beaches are not just a destination; they are our frontline protection,” County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski said. “After the September nor’easter, we need the state and federal partners to act quickly so our shore communities are ready for the winter storm season.”
The NJDEP’s post-storm assessment determined that eight federal coastal storm risk management projects previously done by the Army Corps of Engineers were significantly damaged and are now “vulnerable to future catastrophic failure without near-term repair.”
“It is imperative that we get sand back on these beaches and make other necessary infrastructure repairs as quickly as possible to protect property, lives and coastal economies,” NJDEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak said.
The eight areas include:
Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet, Sections I and II Beach Erosion Control Project, Sea Bright to Manasquan.
Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet, Absecon Island, Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
Barnegat Inlet to Little Egg Inlet, Long Beach Island, New Jersey Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project.
Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet, Brigantine Island, Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
Great Egg Harbor Inlet and Pecks Beach, Ocean City Coastal Storm Risk Management.
Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsend Inlet, New Jersey Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project.
Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet, Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
Townsend Inlet to Cape May Inlet Coastal Storm Risk Management Project.
