FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 2, 2026

CONTACTS:

Dan Ginolfi | (202) 787-5770

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Congressman Van Drew and federal and state officials toured New Jersey's beaches to view the damages following the Irish weekend storm, which caused some of the worst erosion and flooding since Sandy. Officials toured the beaches of American Coastal Coalition member communities - Long Beach Township, Sea Isle City, and North Wildwood - with other stops in Atlantic City and Brigantine. 

"We are extremely grateful to Congressman Van Drew for his immediate response and for bringing key agency staff to see our members' beaches firsthand," said Dan Ginolfi, Executive Director of the American Coastal Coalition. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the US Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 

When asked about rebuilding the beaches, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill pledged to keep all options on the table to help restore New Jersey's coasts. Earlier this week, the American Coastal Coalition wrote to Governor Sherrill urging her to request Emergency Rehabilitation Assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild the beaches at 100% federal expense to ensure our coastal communities do not face disaster from future storms.

The American Coastal Coalition is the nation’s leading coastal advocacy organization representing coastal communities across the United States that rely on federal funding to support their beaches and coastal economies.

###