Ortley Beach Storm Protection Efforts Praised by Unlikely Leader

One of the biggest critics of Toms River's storm protection efforts is praising the Township's efforts to install a sand berm a few weeks before Hurricane Joaquin and the Nor'easter were predicted to impact the Jersey Coast over the past weekend.

Ken Langdon, Chairman of the Ortley Beach Liason Committee, said he has been pleading with the Township for the past decade to incorporate a yearly beach maintenance program.

"The work that they were doing was pretty much what I had been asking for, for many, many years, and that is an annual type of beach maintenance, where by they come in, they scarp the beach, and they build up the dunes," said Langdon.

Langdon pointed out the work the Township did ahead of time was a the first line of defense and a major factor in eliminating or reducing any serious damage.

Some homeowners criticized the preventive measures Toms River took, calling the sand piling patch work following a small breach at the block house the Township is in the process of rebuilding. Surprisingly, Langdon also disagreed with that assessment.

"A breach to me is where you have a breach in the dunes and water is rushing down the street," Langdon said. He added the void underneath the block house was not filled, which allowed sand to get underneath and some water to "dribble out" onto the street.  "Not even the wildest sense could that have been considered a breach."

Langdon commended the Township for doing a "fantastic" job, but reiterated concern about future protection efforts.

"Hopefully, the Township will come around to may way of thinking and realize that annual beach maintenance is a very major factor for any coastal community, just go up and down the coast," said Langdon, referring to Lavallette and Seaside Park as examples.

"When you have a fierce amount of tax revenue that comes out of this little pocket of community over here, I think it would be very wise for them to see to it that we are protected," Langdon said.

He added the dunes installed after Super storm Sandy are in sad shape after being chewed away during the recent rough surf and will need to be replenished.