Coastal experts eye Irene's beach erosion

Tropical Storm Irene caused significant beach erosion and dune damage as it crashed into Long Island Sunday, but its destruction was not as severe as that of Hurricane Gloria in 1985 or numerous severe nor'easters that have followed, officials and coastal experts said.

"This was not as bad as Gloria overall, but it was worse at some parks," said George Gorman Jr., deputy regional director for state parks.

"This was about the level of the Christmas storm we had last year," said Aram Terchunian, a private erosion specialist on the South Fork.

Still, many beaches along the South Shore and some on the North Shore were covered early Sunday by crashing waves, which left severe damage.

"We definitely lost dunes at Robert Moses and the east end of Jones Beach," Gorman said.

At Robert Moses, surf washed out the beach and hit the base of the dunes. The waves took out snow fencing installed to protect the dunes and undermined some dunes, allowing them to collapse into the ocean and have the sand washed out to sea.

Elsewhere on Fire Island, dunes were washed away by the storm's ferocity. "We have lost critical dune height along the entire Islip Town oceanfront of Fire Island," town director of Emergency Management Rick Gimbl said. He met with other officials late Sunday to make an initial assessment so the town could apply for federal aid.

In places, Irene flattened or sliced through dunes. One 15-foot-wide gap was cut through an 8-foot-tall dune west of Kismet.

There was no visible damage to homes on Fire Island.

Heavy flooding was observed throughout Jones Beach State Park. "The water was lapping over the top of the boardwalk," Gorman said. The lifeguard shack, umbrella rental shop and the snack shop by the Central Mall were damaged by waves. At least 2 miles of snow fencing meant to protect dunes was washed away.

All of Heckscher State Park's beaches eroded, Gorman said. At Field 6, the beach eroded within 10 feet of the concession building patio.

At Orient Beach State Park, the access road was damaged by erosion and the entire park flooded. At Wildwood State Park, 1 to 2 feet of bluff overlooking Long Island Sound collapsed. There was beach erosion at Montauk Point State Park and the parking lot was flooded at Hither Hills State Park.

All Long Island state parks will remain closed Monday for cleanup. The city beach at Long Beach also will be closed.

Dune Road remained closed Sunday and residents were evacuated Saturday, Southampton police Lt. Robert Pearce said. The road was flooded Saturday by ocean waves.

Terchunian said the surf overwashed Pike's Beach in West Hampton Dunes and damaged Shinnecock County Park West. He said there were several dune overwashes in East Quogue and Sagaponack.

The city of Long Beach's lifeguard station washed up the beach and crashed into the boardwalk during the storm.

Eatons Neck and part of Asharoken were briefly cut off to traffic Sunday when waves splashed over the Asharoken Avenue seawall near Bevin Road.

With Patrick Whittle, Kery Murakami and Sarah Crichton