PETERSBURG — Watching as another storm system approached, Township Committee discussed ongoing issues with erosion in Strathmere as the board met Oct. 27.
Committeeman Sam Palombo said he and Mayor Curtis Corson walked the beaches in Strathmere with state Sen. Michael Testa and Assemblyman Antwan McClellan the previous week to look at the damage. Hurricane Erin in August and a strong nor’easter in October wiped out much of the sand that remained in the northern part of the island following a replenishment project at the beginning of 2025.
“This committee has worked very diligently to maintain the beaches in Strathmere and we’re going to continue to do that and explore every avenue we can to preserve that community for the township,” Palombo said.
Corson called it “a productive meeting.”
“It was more so they could put eyes on the ground and know what we’re talking about,” he said, noting Ocean City also declared a state of emergency following erosion there.
Corson said the township and city are working together to plan for the potential that they will need to replenish beaches without federal assistance.
“We are working with our neighbors in conjunction, because the cost of a beach replenishment or anything we do, we’re better off working with our neighbors to share the cost of mobilization and that kind of stuff,” he said.
Committeeman Tyler Casaccio said he had a chance to speak with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew about the issue during a recent fundraiser.
“He is acutely aware of the situation there. He’s had all of us, probably, in his ear one way or another last week, and he’s really working hard to try to help us out,” Casaccio said.
Committeeman Zack Palombo noted another storm was headed this way Oct. 29-30.
“We just got through one, so we’re going to now have another deluge — when it rains it pours kind of thing,” he said.
Palombo said he talked with the Department of Public Works to make sure they were ready to go for the storm, noting it did not appear to be as bad as the last storm.
Corson said the township is moving forward with plans for a pilot program with Yodock Simmons Construction & Environmental Solutions.
The national company based in Bloomsburg, Pa., specializes in water barrier technology to prevent coastal erosion.
He said the township is working with Yodock, the Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to try to get approval for using the system on a trial basis at no cost to the township.
“We have to come up with new, inventive ways. Will it work? We’re not going to know unless we try. Will it fail? We’re not going to know unless we try. We have to try,” Corson said.
The mayor said officials are considering other options as well, noting he met with the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club.
“They have some suggestions and ideas and we’re going to investigate some more of those,” he said.
Corson also said he is seeking quotes from lobbyists to argue the township’s case in Washington.
“I think it would behoove us, maybe, to get a lobbyist to forward our agenda on the beach communities,” he said.
Township Administrator Jim Van Zlike said in addition to meetings with local, state and federal officials, they met with CBS News and AccuWeather “to showcase the erosion here in an effort to bring public outreach to our ongoing problems.”
“Many hands make light work in an effort to bring everyone to the table,” Van Zlike said. “I’m gonna continue that effort tirelessly to get a solution here.”
He said he had a productive meeting with the DEP and Army Corps about getting members of the “innovative community” to find ways to fix the problems.
“I look forward to trying to partner with them and finding ways, maybe to cut through some of the red tape and then get them to be part of our team in fixing our problems,” Van Zlike said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff