Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the approval of federal funds by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance significant repairs of a damaged coastal project on Fire Island in Suffolk County following a series of devastating coastal storms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers disbursed $3.5 million to its New York District Office to expedite project engineering and design. To advance repairs, the New York District is undertaking a detailed survey of existing topographical conditions, information that is essential to the engineering and design of the project. New York State previously allocated $3 million to Suffolk County for an interim project to immediately reduce risk to the most vulnerable Fire Island communities; the interim project is nearing completion.
“I will do everything I can to keep New Yorkers safe, especially the communities most vulnerable to extreme weather,” Governor Hochul said. “With increasingly frequent and extreme storms, New York is working hard to protect our communities, homes and infrastructure. I am grateful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its expedited response to our request for emergency repairs.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District Commander Colonel Alex Young, said, “USACE is pleased to be taking the next step in the process by beginning the engineering and design phase concerning emergency coastal repairs on the eastern end of Fire Island. I would like to thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Governor Hochul and our partners at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, for their continued support.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “I recently sat down with Colonel Alexander Young, the Army Corps NY district Commander, to make the case for today’s much-needed investment of $3.5M in direct help for the Fire Island community and coastline hit hard by recent storms. Restoring the dune on Fire Island is important not only to protect its communities, but to ensure the integrity of the island, a barrier that protects Long Island’s densely populated South Shore. That’s why I have worked tirelessly – along with Senator Gillibrand and Governor Hochul – to secure critical emergency repairs on Fire Island to Ocean Bay Park to Davis Park. I thank the Army Corps of Engineers, especially the New York District, for their swift response to my call and for their commitment of continuing to help. Now that federal funds are flowing, design work will begin in earnest to get emergency rehabilitation underway as soon as possible.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “I am thrilled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved New York’s request for federal funds to address the extensive damages that eastern Fire Island communities have recently experienced. Restoring the South Shore of Long Island is one of my top priorities, and I will keep fighting to help secure the federal assistance communities need.”
Earlier this year, Governor Hochul formally requested expedited approval of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for emergency rehabilitation assistance for the Corps’ Coastal Storm Risk Management Project along eastern Fire Island in Suffolk County. This project was damaged during storms Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia last September, and more recently in December 2023. New York’s repeated requests initiated a process under a federal program PL 84-99, that lets the Army Corps deploy significant repair funds to fix projects damaged by storms determined to constitute an extreme weather event.
Today’s announcement follows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ January determination that recent extreme coastal storms provide initial eligibility under Public Law 84-99. The approval of funding today will trigger efforts to institute resilience and repair measures in eastern Fire Island communities ranging from Ocean Bay Park in the west to Cherry Grove, Fire Island Pines, and Davis Park to the east.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Long Island coastal communities will directly benefit from today’s determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as New York State continues its comprehensive efforts to protect communities against climate change-induced extreme weather events. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State is working with our local, State, and federal partners, including the Army Corps and New York’s Congressional delegation, to advance post-storm recovery and prepare for future climate-driven extreme weather and flooding.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said, “Only through the partnership between all levels of government can we address this critical issue. Suffolk County is thankful for this assistance and support in our efforts to safeguard our shorelines.”
In January, Governor Hochul announced additional state funding to support critical resiliency projects to stabilize communities and restore impacted beaches along Long Island’s South Shore, including Fire Island and Gilgo State Park and the town of Babylon. New York State is also partnering with Suffolk County, and provided $3 million, to support for an interim sand and large sand bag project on eastern Fire Island communities; this interim effort is nearing completion.
