SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine is calling on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help restore severely eroded beaches at Smith Point County Park and along Dune Road in Southampton, warning that continued coastal deterioration threatens public safety, important infrastructure and one of the county’s most significant memorial sites.
In a formal request dated October 12, Romaine sought federal assistance following extensive damage caused by the September 24–27 nor’easter and winter storms earlier this year.
At Smith Point, storm-driven erosion has completely eliminated the protective dune that previously shielded the park’s pavilion and the TWA Flight 800 Memorial.
The memorial honors the 230 people who died when TWA Flight 800 crashed off Long Island in July 1996.
The loss of the dune has left the surrounding area more vulnerable to future coastal storms, raising concerns about the protection of the memorial and nearby park facilities.
Romaine described the restoration effort as an urgent public safety matter.
“We are asking the Corps to assist as quickly as possible to restore these beaches,” Romaine said. “It is a matter of public safety.”
Dune Road Also Faces Significant Damage
The county’s concerns extend west to Dune Road near Shinnecock Inlet in Southampton.
According to the county’s request, the September storm removed substantial portions of the protective beach berm, reducing its width and elevation.
Officials identified additional locations where stormwater washed across the barrier beach, compounding existing erosion problems.
The affected area helps protect nearby fishing docks, recreational marinas, restaurants and other coastal properties.
Without restoration, future storms could produce additional flooding, damage to infrastructure and disruption to local businesses.
Protecting a Memorial and a Coastline
Smith Point’s TWA Flight 800 Memorial carries particular significance following this year’s 30th anniversary observance of the tragedy.
Hundreds gathered earlier this year to honor the victims and their families.
Romaine emphasized the importance of preserving the memorial for future generations.
“This year we marked the 30th anniversary of the TWA tragedy, with hundreds attending the ceremony,” Romaine said.
The county also reported substantial erosion east of Smith Point’s main pavilion, where damage from winter storms worsened during September’s nor’easter.
The request places two separate coastal emergencies before federal engineers: protecting public infrastructure and memorial grounds at Smith Point, and restoring natural storm defenses along Southampton’s barrier beaches.
Suffolk County has requested assistance, but the announcement does not establish that federal funding or restoration work has been approved.
The next step is determining what assistance the Army Corps can provide and how quickly damaged dunes and beach berms can be restored.
For coastal communities vulnerable to increasingly severe storm impacts, the condition of those natural barriers remains an immediate infrastructure and public safety concern.