The dunes at Fifth Street have been partially sheared away, leaving sharp drop-offs resembling cliffs.
Sightseers and surfers heading to the beach Tuesday at Fifth Street were confronted by a barricade on the Boardwalk.
“Beach Closed,” it said, bluntly.
Down on the beach, much of the sand at Fifth Street appeared to have been washed away by the waves. The protective dunes were also badly eroded, creating sharp drop-offs that looked like mini-cliffs towering about 10 feet high in some places.
The powerful nor’easter that slammed into the Jersey Shore over the Columbus Day weekend left sections of Ocean City’s north end beaches in rough shape.
City Business Administrator George Savastano said the city suffered storm-related beach and dune erosion generally from Fourth Street to 11th Street.
“Fourth or Fifth Street to 10th or 11th Street took a hit. There was some cliffing with the dunes,” Savastano said in an interview while giving an assessment of the storm damage.
The north end shoreline around Fifth Street traditionally is one of the most vulnerable stretches of the beachfront during coastal storms – and that proved true again during the Columbus Day nor’easter on Sunday and Monday.
Savastano said the city probably will look to do some “sand harvesting” in the winter or spring to build up the eroded beaches.
Simply put, sand harvesting involves taking sand from healthy beaches to replace sand that has been lost in depleted areas. Earthmoving equipment is used for the job.
Savastano explained that Ocean City may look for assistance from the state on a plan to truck in fresh sand to replenish the north end and downtown beaches, generally from Fifth Street to 11th Street.
“That’s not definite, but it’s something we’re looking at,” he said.
The storm pounded the Jersey Shore towns in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties with rough surf, tidal flooding, gusty winds and drenching rain for two straight days.
On Sunday, gusty winds combined with the heavy rain and flooding to make conditions even more dangerous. Top wind gusts were clocked at 59 mph in Sea Isle City, 52 mph in Avalon and 51 mph in Ocean City and Cape May Harbor.
The storm’s impacts were also felt in other parts of the state. Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey to prepare for the storm.
Flooding was widespread across the coast, particularly on low-lying streets and neighborhoods.
While the storm was still intense on Monday, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian pleaded with motorists to stay off the flooded streets in town.
“Not only are you putting yourself and your vehicle at risk, but the wakes generated by cars plowing through floodwaters can damage people’s homes and property,” he said in a storm statement to the public.
Ultimately, Gillian had kind words for the public as the storm began to dissipate on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, Monday afternoon’s high tide was not as severe as predicted.
“I want to thank everybody who took precautions to prepare for this storm and who checked on neighbors. That’s what Ocean City is all about,” Gillian said.
As the storm finally moves away, there remains one Coastal Flood Advisory issued for Tuesday up until 8 p.m. Only minor flooding was expected.
A barricade blocks access to the eroded beach at Fifth Street.
