GALLOWAY, NJ – In advance of next week's one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will join Interior and local officials tomorrow at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey to announce the funding approval of 45 restoration and research projects that will help protect Atlantic Coast communities from future powerful storms.
The investments are consistent with the Obama Administration's commitment laid out in the Climate Action Plan to build resilience and ensure communities are better protected from future storms. The Department of the Interior has already invested $480 million in Hurricane Sandy response and recovery efforts since the storm hit last October.
Following the announcement, Secretary Jewell will join U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe and refuge biologists to participate in a salt marsh restoration monitoring project.
With more than 47,000 acres of wetlands spanning from Brick Township to the suburbs of Atlantic City, Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is located within 100 miles of more than 10 million Americans and absorbed much of Sandy's energy and storm surge, protecting some of the communities in the path of the storm. Hurricane Sandy destroyed refuge roadways and dumped boats, fuel oil tanks, chemical drums and other debris across 22 miles of refuge lands. The natural buffer provided by the refuge's marshes, beaches, and forests protected the refuge's visitor center and headquarters and surrounding local communities from severe flood damage.
WHO:
Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior
Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rush Holt, U.S. Representative (NJ-12)
Frank LoBiondo, U.S. Representative (NJ-2)
Wendi Weber, NE Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dave Russ, NE Regional Director, U.S. Geological Survey
Dr. Stan Hales, Director, Barnegat Bay Partnership
Virginia Rettig, Refuge Manager, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
WHAT:
Major Hurricane Sandy Funding Announcement and Restoration Monitoring Project
WHERE:
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Galloway, NJ
WHEN:
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013
10:00 AM – Media Check-In
10:30 AM – Press Conference
10:50 AM – Salt Marsh Restoration Monitoring Project (b-roll opportunities with speakers and volunteers)
MEDIA:
Credentialed members of the media who wish to attend this event are required to RSVP HERE no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.
Additional logistical information will be provided to confirmed members of the media.
Source: Department of Interior
