New York Seeks Army Corps Help to Repair Coastal Projects

The state asked federal engineers to restore four beach and dune projects damaged by a September nor'easter.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Emergency Response

Eroded sandy beach with a cut-back dune face and broken dune grass under overcast light, with the grey sea beyond. — New York asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday to restore four beach and dune projects damaged by a September nor'easter. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should New York use federal money to repair storm-damaged beaches and dunes?

New York submitted a request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair four coastal protection projects damaged by a nor'easter that struck September 25-28. The storm caused beach and dune erosion, sand loss and flooding.

Why it matters

Beaches and dunes serve as protective barriers for residents and infrastructure, and restoring storm-lost sand is intended to help the projects continue providing that protection. The request does not yet announce federal funding or approval of the work.

The request covers four coastal projects damaged in the September 25-28 storm, submitted in response to the Army Corps' October 5 invitation to public sponsors. Whether federal money will be awarded and the requested work approved has not been announced.

The players

Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul is the Governor of New York, who directed the state's request for federal coastal repair assistance.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the federal agency that builds and maintains coastal protection projects and runs the rehabilitation program the state applied to.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is the state agency that submitted the request and is coordinating repairs with local governments.

The details

Governor Kathy Hochul directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to submit the request, which seeks to restore the projects to their intended protective designs. DEC is working with New York City, Suffolk County, Long Beach, and the towns of Hempstead, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven, Southampton and East Hampton, with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also involved.

September 25-28: Nor'easter damages the four coastal projects, causing erosion, sand loss and flooding.
October 5: The Army Corps invites public sponsors to submit rehabilitation program requests.
November 5, 2026: New York submits its coastal project repair request to the Army Corps.

Seasonal Patterns

The request is made under the Army Corps' rehabilitation program for federally authorized coastal projects, which is the federal mechanism through which damaged beach and dune systems on Long Island's south shore are restored. Its use here follows the October 5 invitation to public sponsors issued after the September nor'easter.

Residents along the south shore should follow local guidance from their county and town officials on beach closures and dune areas while repairs are considered. The request does not yet change any public access or safety rules.

The takeaway

Storm-damaged coastal protection can only be restored after federal approval and funding, so the timeline for repairs depends on the Army Corps' response to New York's request. Residents should track updates from their county and town governments.