Following heavy rains and flooding in Monmouth County last week, U.S. Rep Frank Pallone (D-6th) held a press conference Friday with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to survey the storm damage and tour ongoing flood control projects that have already cost $1 billion. Pallone said he is using the tour to assess possible options for future projects to address ongoing flooding due to climate change, including new seawalls and dunes.
“We can’t ignore the fact that with climate change, we are going to see more frequent and more severe storms,” said Pallone. “And that’s one of the reasons that we are doing this tour today because we want to see what the impact of that is and what the future might be and what other projects will have to be done in the future.”
Pallone made stops in Asbury Park and Union Beach. In one location, rain caused the Wesley Lake in Asbury Park to flood, creating a storm surge that damaged several businesses and homes and caused millions of dollars worth of damage, officials said. The congressman says in his 35 years in office he’s never seen a simple rain event cause that level of damage in the area.
