Pallone Credits OEM, Beach Replenishment For Helping Protect Local Shore Towns

Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) officially welcomed visitors back to the Jersey Shore on Thursday in Long Branch.

Pallone held a press conference on the Pier Village boardwalk and was joined by Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson, Monmouth Beach Mayor Susan Howard and Neptune Mayor Kevin McMillan. McLoone's owner Tim McLoone was also on hand to talk about the importance of the beach to local businesses.

Pallone spoke about how happy he was that many Jersey Shore towns held up against Hurricane Irene as well as they did.

"The damage was not as bad as expected," Pallone said.

Pallone commended local officials and emergency management personnel for how they handled hurricane preparedness.

"There was such great preparedness from the federal to the local level," Pallone said.

He said that preparation helped allow municipalities such as Asbury Park and Long Branch to open their beaches as early as they did.

“Today our Jersey Shore businesses are open and will continue to serve visitors this season,” Pallone said. 

He also said beach replenishment helped protect boardwalks and streets from becoming badly flooded or damaged by the waves and flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.

"Our beaches held up fairly well," Pallone said.

He said municipalities that incurred large expenses from Hurricane Irene are in the process of gathering those figures and sending them to FEMA with the hope of being reimbursed.

McLoone, who owns three waterfront restaurants along the Jersey Shore, including one in Pier Village, said his business is always affected by events like hurricanes.

"Not only did we lose money, but our tipped employees did as well," McLoone said as a result of having to close his business.

Mayor Howard said also credited beach replenishment as a reason why Monmouth Beach did not suffer any significant damage from the hurricane.

"We had enough beach to protect us through this storm," Mayor Howard said.

Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said in the past, without beach replenishment, the city incurred large expenses as a result of storms.

Woolley said the nor'easter that hit the city in 1992 made a huge "divot" in the beach that cost almost $1.5 million to repair.

"(Beach replenishment) is a working concept and its proven out by this storm," Woolley said.