By Julia Train
Congressman Jeff Van Drew led federal and state officials on a tour of South Jersey shore communities following the nor’easter that battered the coast over the last weekend of September. The Oct. 1 outing included stops in Atlantic and Cape May counties to assess damage and discuss recovery and long-term coastal protection.
Van Drew was joined by Senior officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and state, county and local governments.
The tour included Atlantic City and Brigantine in Atlantic County, as well as Sea Isle City and North Wildwood in Cape May County. Officials also visited other South Jersey shore communities, including Long Beach Island.
“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,” Van Drew said in a news release. “But there is also a bigger picture here. The work we have done over the last year made a difference.”
Van Drew pointed to $99 million in beach replenishment funding secured for South Jersey, saying projects were completed under budget and on time and helped absorb some of the storm’s impact.
“Without that protection, the damage could have been much worse,” he said.
In Atlantic City, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said the storm presented serious challenges for the city and other coastal communities, while praising the city’s Office of Emergency Management, law enforcement and regional first responders for their response.
Van Drew said $30 million is already moving through the federal funding process for beach replenishment in Atlantic City and the rest of Absecon Island.
Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera said during the tour that the city’s North End needs immediate protection while officials work toward longer-term solutions. He also highlighted erosion on the South End and the condition of the Brigantine Jetty.
“What we are seeing here in Brigantine is part of a larger challenge facing all our coastal communities,” Sera said in Van Drew’s release.
In Cape May County, Sea Isle City Mayor and Cape May County Commission Director Len Desiderio thanked Van Drew and federal and state officials for inspecting the storm damage firsthand.
“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,” Desiderio said.
North Wildwood Mayor Sal Zampirri also thanked the officials for visiting the city and assessing the damage.
“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,” Zampirri said.
The storm response comes as Van Drew continues to push for federal investments in coastal protection. In September, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 by a 415-9 vote.
The legislation includes 11 South Jersey priorities Van Drew secured in the bill, including projects and studies involving coastal protection, erosion, waterways and dam safety.
Among the priorities are an expedited North Wildwood storm damage reduction project using sand from Hereford Inlet, an accelerated erosion study for the Atlantic City hot spot, and an assessment of the Great Egg Harbor River watershed.
The bill also includes provisions addressing the use of dredged materials for beach nourishment and restoration and directs research into erosion mitigation technologies.
Van Drew said the legislation is part of a broader effort to prepare South Jersey communities for future storms.
“South Jersey is surrounded by water. We know these storms are going to come, so our job is to be ready for them,” he said. “We have made real progress, and we are going to keep doing the work to protect South Jersey.”
The federal response began before the storm arrived. In a Sept. 25 statement, Van Drew said his office was in contact with FEMA and the White House and urged residents to prepare for possible flooding and power outages.
After the storm, Van Drew said teams were assessing conditions throughout the district and that he would meet with FEMA and Army Corps officials to determine what federal resources could be made available.
The Oct. 1 tour was part of that ongoing assessment, with officials examining damage in coastal communities and discussing both immediate recovery needs and long-term efforts to reduce the impact of future storms.
“Our job is to be ready for them,” Van Drew said. “We have made real progress, and we are going to keep doing the work to protect South Jersey.”
Julia graduated from Rider University in 2024 with a BA in multiplatform journalism and minor in social media strategies. In addition to reporting on local news for Shore Local, she is a social media strategist for small businesses. Connect with her: shorelocaljulia@gmail.com or @juliatrain on Instagram.
