Gov. Hochul to propose new initiatives to combat coastal erosion on Long Island

ALBANY – Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday will announce a new set of coastal initiatives her administration says will help Long Island communities protect against erosion and floods.

The Democrat also will tout new coastal-protection grants specifically for disadvantaged communities and expanded search-and-rescue resources for dealing with natural disasters.

The plans will be announced in the governor’s State of the State address Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Albany, an administration source told Newsday.

“Since I've taken office, we have seen once-in-a-hundred-year storms become the norm as a result of climate change,” Hochul said in a statement to Newsday. “While Republicans in Washington roll back protections, I am committed to ensuring local communities have the tools they need to fortify their infrastructure against floods, wildfires and other extreme weather.”

Specifics about the coastal grants will be detailed when Hochul delivers her proposed 2026-27 budget to the State Legislature next week.

New York and federal officials have stepped up aid to communities as sea levels rise and intense storms batter coastlines on Long Island and elsewhere.

For instance, in October 2024, Hochul earmarked $3.5 million to rebuild South Shore beaches as part of a dredging and shoreline protection project. In January 2024, Hochul announced $2 million to repair damaged playground structures and replenish eroded sand at Overlook Beach in Babylon. Her administration also awarded $2.5 million to rebuild and fortify Ditch Plains Beach, an iconic Montauk surfing spot.

In Tuesday’s address the governor will propose “a new round of grants to local communities for targeted projects that strengthen shorelines, protect critical assets, and reduce flood risk in vulnerable communities,” according to speech documents.

She also will “launch a new competitive grant program to support community-based organizations in environmental justice and disadvantaged communities for strengthening local preparedness and response capabilities.”

Hochul also wants to launch a “new ‘Urban Search and Rescue’ partnership” that works with first responders and the state Department of Homeland Security. Her administration said ideally it would “deploy quickly and sustain large-scale rescue operations during major disasters,” adding: “This would expand access to advanced rescue capabilities which are currently concentrated in New York City.”

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy