Laura Geronimo recently graduated with a doctorate from Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She is in the news for her trailblazing research on climate hazards. Now, as a Knauss Fellow with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), she works to connect with communities. These communities are disproportionately the ones who deal with disasters in the most high-risk locations. Geronimo’s in-depth analysis shows the conflicting priorities for adaptation spending between local residents and elected officials in Ortley Beach, New Jersey. The effects of Superstorm Sandy continue to be felt in this community.
In 2012, Superstorm Sandy slammed into Ortley Beach, with devastating effects. Most of the town’s 200 homes were damaged or destroyed. The flood’s aftermath forced residents to contend with enormous rebuilding expenses and skyrocketing insurance rates. In 2022, Geronimo undertook a community assessment through a qualitative study guided by key-informant interviews. Through this research we discovered the economic worries associated with various adaptation strategies in these vulnerable coastal communities.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Economic Impact
Geronimo’s study highlights that in Ortley Beach, it was the stakeholders who first recognized the economic effects of adaptation as their number one priority. These high costs, which they often shoulder individually as they rebuild after Sandy and voluntarily elevate their homes, were a resentment voiced by many residents. Many faced more than $100,000 in out-of-pocket costs to return their homes to their pre-storm states.
Residents also detailed their concerns over the sky-rocketing insurance premiums that came after the destruction. Given the massive financial burden, this necessity has caused further division on whether to focus adaptation efforts on retreating or defending. As Geronimo notes, “Our study reveals that residents and officials across all levels of government are concerned about the financial implications of coastal risk strategies—underscoring the need to clearly demonstrate the long-term economic benefits of alternatives like voluntary relocation and to bolster both household and local fiscal resilience to climate and political shocks.”
The political landscape further complicates these discussions. In Ortley Beach, local government is Republican, but state and federal governments are Democratic at present. This juxtaposition creates a deep cultural friction. Folks are conflicted between protecting property assets and protecting people when making the case for investments in protections.
The Balancing Act of Rebuilding and Relocation
Geronimo’s study highlights a critical dilemma faced by communities like Ortley Beach: should they focus on rebuilding or consider relocating? The data strongly points to a divide between residents and decision makers on this topic. Some residents expressed the sentiment that without a comprehensive plan, future storms could render much of their community underwater again.
“If we don’t do something to plan it out, it is just going to be a bunch of homes underwater.” – Residents
The implications of this tension are significant. Geronimo’s point is that Camp Mystic just like Ortley Beach are repetitive loss communities. He cautions that permitting reconstruction in these areas endangers life. She advocates taking a more holistic view of adaptation that promotes recovery while serving a longer-term sustainable state.
Ongoing Challenges in Coastal Communities
The turmoil evident in Ortley Beach was crystallized by our study’s focus on the irony of the current reality at Ortley Beach. It’s equally a cautionary tale for other communities facing similar crises. More recently, erosion troubles and development pressures from New York City still plague the area, years after the calamity of Superstorm Sandy. Geronimo cautions that “communities like those on the Jersey Shore, which rely heavily on federal transfers, may soon face a fiscal cliff,” indicating that reliance on external funding sources could become untenable.
Her research highlights the importance of proactive, interdisciplinary planning that will address fiscal sustainability alongside both short- and long-term community resilience. Geronimo’s findings suggest that local governments must engage more with residents to craft policies that balance economic viability with disaster preparedness.