Press Releases

Atlantic City, NJ - Today, Congressman Van Drew led a tour of South Jersey shore communities impacted by the recent nor'easter to assess storm damage, discuss federal disaster assistance, and review long-term coastal protection needs. Joining him were senior officials from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including Performing Assistant Secretary for the Army D. Lee Forsgren, Interim Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations Brigadier General Geoffrey Van Epps, and FEMA Region 2 Administrator Christopher Hartnett. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection also participated, along with state, county, and local officials.

"This was the worst storm we have seen here in more than a decade, and there was very serious damage up and down our coast," said Congressman Van Drew. "But there is also a bigger picture here. The work we have done over the last year made a difference. We secured $99 million for beach replenishment, got those projects built under budget and in time, and those beaches took a tremendous amount of the impact from this storm. Without that protection, the damage could have been much worse. Now we have to keep moving. We are assessing damage throughout our shore communities and in towns along the Delaware Bay so we understand the full extent of what happened and what help is needed. That means making sure our towns get the federal assistance they need to recover from this storm, but it also means looking ahead and continuing to invest in the work that will protect these communities for decades to come. We already have $30 million moving through the federal funding process for beach replenishment in Atlantic City and the rest of Absecon Island, and I secured provisions in this year's Water Resources Development Act to advance a number of major coastal priorities for South Jersey.

"I want to thank FEMA, the Army Corps, NJDEP, and our state, county, and local officials for being here and working with us," Congressman Van Drew continued. "South Jersey is surrounded by water. We know these storms are going to come, so our job is to be ready for them. We have made real progress, and we are going to keep doing the work to protect South Jersey."

"This nor'easter presented serious challenges for Atlantic City and coastal towns across South Jersey," said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. "I applaud the fine men and women of our Office of Emergency Management and law enforcement who worked around the clock to help protect our community, along with first responders from throughout the region. Now, as our focus turns to recovery, the Great City of Atlantic City has a strong and valued relationship with Congressman Jeff Van Drew, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with him as we assess the storm's impact and pursue every available resource."

"I want to thank Congressman Van Drew for his constant concern and help for LBI and the other NJ coastal communities," said Long Beach Island Mayor Mancini. "His presence in Holgate attracted FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the NJ DEP, which needed to be there to witness the remaining dunes that the Army Corps of Engineers built and how they performed as advertised. We know he will be fighting for the funding we need to bring the beach back up to Corps standards."

"I'm very grateful to Congressman Van Drew and the federal and state officials for their prompt response to this nor'easter and for taking the time to personally inspect conditions in Sea Isle City," said Sea Isle Mayor and Cape May County Commission Director Len Desiderio. "The congressman has shown his commitment to getting results for our region, as demonstrated by the successful beach replenishment we just received, which helped spare the city from more extensive damage."

"On behalf of the residents and visitors in the City of North Wildwood, I am extremely grateful for Congressman Van Drew and our other federal and state partners for taking the time to visit North Wildwood and see firsthand the damage caused by last weekend's nor'easter," said North Wildwood Mayor Sal Zampirri. "We remain hopeful that our partners will continue to work with us and assist the City as we recover and rebuild following one of the most impactful coastal storms our area has experienced in recent years."

"Having Congressman Van Drew and our federal and state partners here in Brigantine to see this damage firsthand is incredibly important," said Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera. "We need everyone to understand how serious the situation is, particularly at the North End of the Island, where we need immediate protection while we work on long-term solutions. But the North End is not the only part of our Island that needs attention. We also need to address the erosion in the South End and the condition of the Brigantine Jetty, which is an important part of protecting the homes and neighborhoods in that area. What we are seeing here in Brigantine is part of a larger challenge facing all our coastal communities. I appreciate Congressman Van Drew's leadership in bringing our federal and state partners together and making sure Brigantine has the support we need. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know we have the right people working together to help Brigantine."