PRESS RELEASE
October 24, 2019
Contact: Connie Conway
(631) 702-1743
About 75 Town, County and State employees attended the Dune Road appreciation breakfast on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at Oakland’s in Hampton Bays near where a major breach was prevented thanks to a multi-agency effort to restore the dune damaged from two recent back to back storms.
Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone invited employees from Suffolk DPW, State DOT, State DEC, and the Southampton Police Department as well as staff from a number of different agencies to recognize their hard work with certificates of merit.
“These men and women performed under extraordinary conditions and saved Dune Road from disaster,” said Supervisor Schneiderman. “The Commercial Fishing Dock and three restaurants, including Oakland’s, could have suffered serious damage had it not been for their quick action.”
“I want to thank all of the crews from the County, Town and State who worked around the clock through the duration of the storm to help repair the dune along Dune Road,” said County Executive Bellone. “Because of their swift action and ability to mobilize the resources we needed, we were able to avert disaster and prevent a full breach.”
The effort began October 10th when workers moved 200 truckloads of sand along Dune Road to construct a 750 long, 12 foot high dune that had washed away in the early part of the storm. The manmade dune withstood three high tide cycles that would have been devastating to the barrier beach and commercial businesses.
“As the owner of a dragger based at the Commercial Dock, bad weather that impacts our business and our investment causes a lot of stress,” said Southampton Town Councilwoman Julie Lostad, whose family owns a commercial fishing boat. “So to those who worked in harsh conditions to make sure the Shinnecock Fleet was safe from harm and quickly accessible to the captains, crew and owners who work down there every day, you have our deepest appreciation.”
The dune along this area on the east end of Dune Road was washed away twice from recent storms and is an area that remains vulnerable. The County is planning an emergency dredge operation in the next few weeks to rebuild the beach and the dune line.
