Rebuilding a Resilient Shore Conference Recap IV
The half-day conference at Monmouth University on Dec. 7 highlighted the reality of a changing climate, and discussed how government at all levels can work together to rebuild the New Jersey Shore in a more resilient way. Below, highlights from the final session, about state and local opportunities.
- The final panel began with Mark Mauriello, former commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, who focused on what communities can do to minimize future risk. Full presentation. As before, we had a little livetweeting delay with this session.
We hit our twitter limit from this account for #resilientshore. Please follow the hashtag; tweeting from @eclisham personal account now.
Mauriello also has family roots at the Jersey Shore. Reviewing a lot of the same data we've been seeing all morning. #resilientshore- Mauriello also mentions density of development, amount of impervious cover, which we haven't talked about yet today. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: We tend to under-estimate hazards; cf. construction damage after Sandy. Regulatory standards insufficient. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: Flood plains are expanding, flood heights are increasing. Standards don't account for future conditions. #resilientshore
Floodplains are changing in NJ & around county. If you don't change plan, wind up with development vulnerable in future #resilientshore- Problem: Static development line, negative sediment budget. We don't have the sediment supplies to nourish beaches naturally #resilientshore
- Mauriello talking about natural migration of barrier islands. Problem is our development line does not allow for that. #resilientshore
- Construction standards are not sufficient to protect homes and people. #resilientshore
- Mauriello showing photos of damage that results from insufficient standards to address future trends. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: Storm surge pushes water elevation up in bays; bayside damage unusual, not planned for. Same w/urban areas. #resilientshore
- Storm surge damage on the bay shore - bay surges. Need to rethink our approach in these areas. People were surprised. #resilientshore
- Mauriello stressing reasons to think differently: cost of debris, flood-insurance payouts, increasing frequency of events. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: Goal is disaster resilience. WILL WE LEARN we need to do things differently? #resilientshore
- Mauriello: We must look longer-range than next five years. Need to look much more long-term. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: Need strong pre-storm plans so we don't ask afterward, "What should we be doing?" #resilientshore
- Mauriello stresses coordination, cost-benefit solutions. Quick fixes often turn out to be money poorly spent. #resilientshore
- Mauriello: Many residents don't understand full extent of vulnerability. Need to understand if they're going to help. #resilientshore
- Mauriello talking about viable ways to acquire vulnerable property. Most cost-effective mitigation step. #resilientshore
Selective relocation. Mauriello actually said it. Yeah. Too bad he is not in Gov't anymore. #resilientshore- Mauriello: Don't wait for state to issue higher standards. Communities should be changing standards now. #resilientshore
