Ideas compiled to avert storm damage

Elevation and bigger dunes are needed, Atlantic Beach residents say

Posted

Ideas for allotting the more than $9 million in federal funds available to the Village of Atlantic Beach, the Atlantic Beach Estates and East Atlantic Beach for Hurricane Sandy relief were welcomed at a Community Reconstruction program meeting on Oct. 16.
Guided by representatives from the New York Department of State and various planning and engineering firms, the committee, co-chaired by Jonathan Kohan, a retired chief of the Atlantic Beach Rescue and treasurer of the Town of Hempstead’s Industrial Development Authority, along with Anthony Licatesi, former president of the Atlantic Beach Estates Association and past chairman and current member of the Atlantic Beach Water District, has been working since mid-September to identify critical infrastructure community projects. Other committee members are from civic associations, the water district, municipal officials and business owners.
Revitalizing the community and helping to the quality of life for the residents of the barrier island are a few of the committee’s goals, according to Kohan. “We need to hear from you, this is a collaborative process,” he said to attendees. “We want to hear if we’re on the right track as well as ideas we didn’t think of.”
Guided by state representatives from the New York Department of State, the resident were instructed to work on individual and group exercises to brainstorm ideas. Suggestions for an ideal community in the future, mapping out what was damaged in the community and what is important to residents, were compiled during the nearly two-hour meeting.
John Healy, a 45-year East Atlantic Beach resident, said that community members having an open line of communication with government officials is vital. “I’m glad the state is putting out information that helps homeowners with reality,” he said.
Healy is hoping that another hurricane of Sandy’s magnitude doesn’t strike, but isn’t optimistic. “Another storm is going to happen again but I hope to never see another Sandy,” he said. “I hope it’s a once in a 500-year storm but I have a feeling it won’t be.”

Page 1 / 2