Gov. Sherrill requests federal aid for Jersey beaches after damaging September nor'easter

This is Monday, reading about, there we go, about 8 to 12 feet. Surfer Nick Gardella looks over the Bayhead Cliffs. Two things caught his attention, another round of high surf next week and the damage left behind from September. It's not like anything I've seen in a long time. I can't really remember seeing anything like this. It's pretty crazy to see. In North Wildwood, scenes like these prompted Cape May commissioners to call for Governor Sherrill to request federal funds to fix the beaches. Last week, Congressman Van Drew met with Ocean County leaders on LBI. The governor today announced her request for emergency federal aid for Army Corps projects from Sandy Hook to Cape May. We need desperately money to repair our beaches. It's totally unsafe. For years, Bayhead leaders have maintained damage like this is the result of poor planning by the Army Corps. Well, after their most recent meeting, the leaders tell me there are now signs of encouragement. In Bayhead, the storm left every beach entrance compromised. Most are still closed. The mayor's plea follows a somewhat contentious relationship between Bayhead and the Army Corps of Engineers. They asked for a dune pushed further back toward the homes in 2025 to no avail. I think we're developing a much better working relationship with them, as the mayor and the council have shown. But we're going to be looking for some help to try to get us back into a safe condition. But you can still get that buckling jet stream. News 12 meteorologists say the powerful El Nino pattern could mean more coastal storms this winter. What, if any, money is offered by the feds will now wait to be seen as folks like Nick... I'm interested to see what's going to happen with this next storm. Keep watch over the ocean. In Bayhead, Jim Murdoch, News 12, New Jersey.