Reflections on Superstorm Sandy, One Year Later: An Open Letter

Dear Friends: 

The one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy will be a time of reflection. For most of the millions affected by power outages and infrastructure failures, the anniversary will be a memory of lack of water, cold temperatures and shared generators. But for thousands of those with homes and businesses hit by the storm surge, Sandy is still a devastating reality. Some reconstruction has been completed, but many are still closer to the start than to the finish. Most of these storm survivors have been victims of another flood - of paperwork and bureaucracy by insurance companies and/or government. 

Baywood Swamp, Brick, NJ
Before and After Waves of Action volunteers cleaned the area

Clean Ocean Action focused on responding with Waves of Action For The Shore - directing almost 14,000 volunteers to projects for citizens, communities, and habitats in need. 

Going forward, there are decisions that our leaders must make - how can we better prepare with resiliency and environmental stewardship? How do we sustain a clean ocean economy for boating, diving, surfing, and tourism, but respond to inevitable sea level rise and extreme weather? To reduce the devastation, these questions need to be answered prospectively, before the storms hit. Toward that end, Clean Ocean Action is working with the New Jersey Recovery Fund on legislative and policy actions with American Littoral Society and NY/NJ Baykeeper.

In addition, COA is supporting US Strong, a national, non-partisan initiative to establish an Extreme Weather Relief and Protection Fund to protect families and homes. It would provide for resilient infrastructure and ensure environmental stewardship. Recent studies prove that every $1 dollar spent to prevent devastation from storms, saves $9 of clean up and recovery costs.

There are also individual actions we can all take now to reduce climate change, accelerated sea level rise and increased pollution. Severe weather and its devastation costs impact all of us. We can help reduce these impacts. 

Step one: reduce, reuse, recycle, repeat. We can all take simple, yet meaningful actions that,

together, can have profound benefits! First and foremost, use less energy: as if the planet depends on it - because it does! Join us for the NEXT WAVE OF ACTION FOR THE SHORE and BEYOND. Look for new postings each month where we will suggest ways that we can reduce energy use without impacting the quality of life. The added benefit will be saving money. There will be more for the children's college fund or taking an eco-vacation, with less cost to the planet. Let's make it a joint adventure: a reality show with a purpose.

Cindy Zipf, Clean Ocean Action Executive Director


Clean Ocean Action Wants Your Input

To help Clean Ocean Action gauge public opinion on sea level rise and climate change in coastal communities affected by Superstorm Sandy, please fill out COA's citizen survey here. COA will begin compiling the survey data on Friday, November 1.  This week is your last chance to add your voice to COA’s survey!

As we look back at all that has been accomplished since Superstorm Sandy, we would like to hear from someone important — you. Clean Ocean Action wants to hear about programs or projects that promote environmental stewardship and resiliency in your town. Add to what COA has already started compiling:

• Has your town created an innovative, green project?
• Has your town brought volunteers together for community service?
• Do you know a business or homeowner that has rebuilt sustainably?
• On the other hand, have you seen rebuilding projects that you believe do not promote coastal resiliency?

Email Sean Dixon at policy@cleanoceanaction.org.  COA might add your ideas to the upcoming Waves of Action Conference and Awards on Saturday, December 7.

Environmental Candidate Forums For Citizens About Sandy Long-Term Recovery

Two forums will be held next week providing citizens with an opportunity to have their voices heard on important environmental issues by candidates for state legislative offices. The forums will be held on Tuesday, September 24 in Loveladies, NJ and on Thursday, September 26 in Wall, NJ.  Citizens will be provided an opportunity to ask questions to their legislative candidates about their environmental concerns. 

A Coastal Candidates Environmental Forum for the 9^th Legislative District, organized by Clean Ocean Action, ReClam The Bay and Alliance for a Living Ocean, will be held on Tuesday, September 24 in Loveladies on Long Beach Island, NJ at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences.  From 7pm-8:30pm, community members will have the opportunity to participate in a discussion with candidates running in the 9^th District about environmental issues, and will have the opportunity to ask questions about Superstorm Sandy and the rebuilding process, offshore Liquefied Natural Gas, fracking/fracking waste, and other key environmental issues.  The discussion will be moderated by ReClam The Bay President Rick Bushnell.  To register for the event or to submit questions in advance for the candidates visit ForTheShore.org. 

“The Long Beach Island Foundation is very pleased to host the “Meet the Candidates” sponsored by Clean Ocean Action.  The activity is part of mission of Long Beach Island Foundation: to provide a forum where our community can become informed about science, art and timely topics of importance to us all. The Science Committee at the Long Beach Island Foundation has been very active in efforts to improve the environment, especially on LBI and is happy to provide a place where our citizen neighbors can interact with the policy makers. The Long Beach Island Foundation wants to thank Clean Ocean Action for producing this event,” said ReClam The Bay President Rick Bushnell.

Coastal candidates that will be attending the environmental forum on September 24 include:

• Republican candidate for State Senate Senator Christopher Connors
• Democratic candidate for State Assembly Peter Ferwerda
• Democratic candidate for State Assembly Chris McManus
• Republican candidate for State Assembly Assemblywoman Diane Gove
• Republican candidate for State Assembly Assemblyman Brian Rumpf

“With our area in a critical state of change due to the ongoing impacts of Superstorm Sandy, it is critical to discuss the candidate's views on the myriad of issues facing our coastal environment and way of life. As always, ALO continues to work to identify politicians who share our values,” explained Alliance for a Living Ocean Executive Director Chris Huch.

“This event, hosted by these outstanding environmental leaders, provides citizens with a rare opportunity to discuss key policy issues in a forum where they can hear views of the candidates.  We hope citizens will take advantage of this important meeting to express their concerns for the future of Jersey Shore,” stated Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf.

The Wall Township Environmental Advisory Committee’s Annual Environmental Summit will be held on Thursday, September 26, from 7pm-8pm at the Wall Township Municipal Building in Wall, NJ.  Citizens are invited to meet the New Jersey 30^th Legislative Representatives to discuss environmental legislation, concerns, and issues. Community members will have the opportunity to ask questions about open space preservation, tree removal, overdevelopment, recycling and composting, watershed funding and other conservations measures.  For more information, visit www.ForTheShore.org.

District 30 Legislative Members that will be attending the environmental summit on September 26 include the following candidates:

• Senator Robert Singer (R)
• Assemblyman Sean Kean (R)
• Assemblyman David Rible (R)

The 9^th Legislative District Coastal Candidates Environmental Forum and Annual Environmental Summit are a part of Clean Ocean Action’s September Series.  Throughout the month of September, Clean Ocean Action is urging citizens to assist in the long-term recovery of the coast by participating in coastal candidate forums, environmental summits and other events through Waves of Action ‘For The Shore.’  Events are being organized by outstanding business and community leaders, and will begin on Monday, September 16 and continue through Saturday, September 28.  Participants can register online and submit questions for the candidates at www.ForTheShore.org. 

   

This September Series is a part of Waves of Action ‘For the Shore,’ a one-year program created last December to help respond to the impacts of Superstorm Sandy by improving and protecting the marine environment.  Clean Ocean Action has joined townships, businesses, homeowners, and civic organizations with thousands of volunteers along the shore to help communities most affected by the storm. 

Since December 2012, community leaders have registered 226 service projects, clean ups, workshops, and outings that have sent over 11,800 volunteers to 70 different towns in New York and New Jersey to help out.  For more information, visit www.ForTheShore.org.

Join Clean Ocean Action on Thursday, October 10, for Seaside Sunset at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch, NJ.  Enjoy dinner and dancing overlooking the ocean and support Clean Ocean Action’s environmental education programs.  For more information, to purchase tickets or to learn more about becoming a Seaside Sunset sponsor click here.