Engineer Estimates Damage to Parks, Infrastructure at $25-$30 million from Sandy

Suzanne Maison November 16, 2012 at 07:28 pm

I guess we won't have to worry about those private homeowners who blocked replenishment . How's the view now? Yes I'm bitter!

Mary Celine Lott November 17, 2012 at 02:41 am

Replenishment could not have prevented the damage from a storm of this magnitude. Let's not be bitter, let's work together and get better.

Cosma November 17, 2012 at 04:28 am

Instead of just writing out blank checks to the construction companies I hope the Toms River Council/Engineering Dept.does there job to plan and execute the rebuilding best to suit the Townships future. We'll soon see.

rich November 17, 2012 at 02:15 pm

The beach is the most imported part of this town,if you live on the mainland you are a distant 2nd ,It has been that way for a long long time they will put all the money and all there contractors down there so get used to seeing all the mess in front of your houses believe me,There excuse is that they are 20% of there tax base,the other 80% will just have to deal with it.

Mike L November 17, 2012 at 02:50 pm

So explain this to me.......the Township is going to "ONLY" fix the public sections of the beach.......aren't all those beaches near water, so if we get another storm the water wouldn't touch the public sections only the "private" sections. Are not ALL the people in beach sections Township Tax Payers. The Township is going to get repaid from FEMA, why not do ALL the beaches and protect ALL the Township, whether you live at the beach or not. That's our township in action again, repair it, not fix it for the future......Oh, and for all you who would have some negative feed back, I live way inland, but have frequented the beaches in the past! Remember all that we have lost because of the storm, some more than others. Remember also what ever we do in the future, it's only as strong as it's weakest link......so FIX IT ALL.

Pat S. November 17, 2012 at 05:48 pm

Once again Toms River drops the ball. You can replenish the public beaches, but without the same dune- building on the various private properties, there will be breaches that will affect the rest of the town. Private beaches are totally self-sufficient, paying for maintenance, cleaning, lifeguards, etc.from homeowner dues. None of them can afford to pay for dunes rebuilding after a disaster of this magnitude. The taxpayers living there pay taxes on over- inflated property assessments and get very little in return. There will be even more loss of tax revenue if the town can't step up to the plate and work with people to protect their homes. People will just choose not to rebuild, and leave an empty lot.

taxed-out-the-wazoo November 17, 2012 at 06:02 pm

Got to see my house...still standing....water/wind damage, but considering everything around us...and the loss of life (in particular that poor family in NY with their babies/little angels....can't even imagine) very lucky on many levels. Just wish we can get adjusters, contractors in there and start to save/rebuild....hopefully soon. Anyway, saw the article about NOT replenishing private beach dunes....do the officials understand that some of those private beaches are NOW OPEN with nothing blocking any water/wind from breaching the beaches onto the streets, directly. So, homeowners, while you may not have liked your ocean view being blocked...how would you like your property to NOW be the property that blocks the wind/waves for others? So TR, how about protecting the WHOLE community and sending a bill to the private owners or realize they were doing a service to the community and put the bill in the "deal with it later" pile? This is not a time to get into private and public access...occasional dumping of sand that PROTECTS the rest of the community is not ADVERSE POSSESSION. TR needs to PROTECT the remainder of the community from the upcoming storms. But, let's get outside help in building the dunes so they are substantial (the dunes immediately before the storm looked like kids built them with shovels and buckets). How about it TR? Let's protect with DUNES EVERYWHERE NECESSARY INCLUDING PRIVATE and start to rebuild the 33% of the tax base!!!

Ken November 17, 2012 at 09:23 pm

The people who wanted private beaches now have them, so since you did not want the public on your beach than why should the public taxe pay to repair it? Enjoy your beach, hope you have a nice view. This goes for the whole barrier island as far as I am concerned.

John Wnek November 18, 2012 at 01:59 am

Yes, the magnitude of this storm was exponentially greater than previous strong storms; however, a solid dune structure, and expanded beach would have decreased the impact to the areas behind the primary dune system. Areas where primary dune were compromised (for beach access, etc...) along the barrier island were where breaches occurred. It is important to contruct a primary dune system that is continuous, and beach face that is deep. However, the grain size of the sand is key in maintaining the integrity of the dune system. With the compromised dune system, basically providing no "line of defense" for Ortley Beach, a new dune structure, must be constructed asap. However, in the long-term, there needs to be a better plan for "suring up" the dune structure. Yes, I agree that the storm would have been devastating to Ortley as it had been; however, a better dune structure overall would have prevented some of the devastation (i.e., communities like Barnegat Light, Seaside Park, and even Island Beach State Park)

Ana Prodani November 18, 2012 at 04:17 pm

I own a small cottage in Vision Beach,a private community of 28 homes ocean block. On Friday we were given access to the area. This is what I saw. The majority of the devastation in Ortley was done not only from water, but from Cyclone force winds. The damage in other barrier towns pales to the damage in Ortley,although they were flooded. No dune is going to protect homes from a Cyclone. I will also promise you that spending 1.4million on relpenishing the dunes while leaving the beach access ramps unprotected is a complete waste of tax payer money. The catastrophic damage is to the homes directly behind the public beach. The water breached on Harding street where no dunes exist. The water entered there and eroded the dunes to the right and left. I saw it happening before I left the island.

Ana Prodani November 18, 2012 at 04:29 pm

On Sat the township pushed some sand against the entrance ramp which did nothing to protect the area. In my humble opinion the homeowners whose homes were washed away have the unprotected entrance ramps to thank for that. Again, if those entance ramps continue to be left unprotected during a major storm such as Sandy, the 1.4 million will be washed out to sea once more. It is the tax paying homeowners, many whom were year round residents that lost their homes who should be bitter, not you.

Ana Prodani November 18, 2012 at 04:32 pm

Vision Beach North resident homes were washed away, because the breach on Harding eroded a portion of the 30 foot high, 60 foot deep and 200 foot across dune, that has protected the community since 1948. That dune was built and maintained by the grandfathers of many residents whom still live there today. The dune was braced by a retaining wall and had more sea grass and Bayberry then any dune on the island. It was the largest dune on the entire island! Vision Beach has always been self sufficient. We maintain our own streets, clean our own beach and pay for our life gaurds,all out of pocket. Our lots are 50x50 and our taxes are between $8k to $10k per year! Our sand is prestine and does not need replenishing. Go visit the replenished beaches whose dark coarse sand stinks and is infested by bugs and then tell me relpenishing is a fantastic idea. All the replenishing in the world would not have protected us from Cyclone force winds, but having a dune on Harding would have prevented the carnage that took place.

Ana Prodani November 18, 2012 at 04:43 pm

Please listen to me...I saw the carnage, and I'm telling you that the majority of the damage was due to the open access ramps!!! Even if they rebuild all the dunes public and private, what good is it, if the access ramps are left unprotected! Thats where the breach happened. Once the water breaches it erodes the dunes to the right and left.

Ana Prodani November 18, 2012 at 04:48 pm

The biggest, strongest dunes in the world are not going to help if you have beach access ramps that are left unprotected. Also Sea Bright had sea walls, that didn't help them...

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