Coastal towns are assessing the damage to the dune system left behind by the storm in Ocean County. 

The storm left 8-foot cliffs over the northern sections of Bay Head. Beaches are all shorter than what they were prior to the remnants of Ian.  

From Bridge Avenue to North Street, cliffs are visible. All access points look to be severely compromised. Further south in town from Johnson Street to the Mantoloking border, erosion is evident, but not as severe as the northern parts.

Dunes were already partially flattened last year after a storm left cliffs. The concern is it will cause costs to soar on the next round of replenishment. Bay Head is on the hook for $1.4 million of their share. The county will cover half of the costs.

Mayor Bill Curtis says the estimate came before the storm and they could be looking at a huge increase, and more, if additional storms impact the area. 

Curtis says the second round of federal replenishment that was going to begin over the winter has now been pushed back to April of 2023 at the earliest.