MONMOUTH COUNTY, N.J. – This weekend, Senator Andy Kim hopped on a Trolley with local leaders from Monmouth County, environmental experts, and flood survivors for a 90-minute tour and conversation about what is needed to protect our shores, our lakes and their habitats, and our communities from the life-threatening flooding and storms that have been causing devastation across the state for years. The visit included stops at lakes in Belmar, Avon-by-the-Sea, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Bradley Beach, and Spring Lake.

Highlights from the Jersey Shore visit include:

NBC4: View the clip by clicking here

On the importance of showing up and working to find solutions in a bi-partisan manner:

“It’s unbelievably helpful to be able to see this with my own eyes…Nature doesn’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. We need to make sure we’re ready for the disasters ahead.”

“This cannot be a situation where we’re thinking ‘oh I don’t have that problem, you know I shouldn’t have to pay for it’. Disasters are happening everywhere.”

TAPinto, Belmar: Senator Andy Kim Joins Local Leaders on Coastal Lakes Tour to Tackle Stormwater, Flooding, and Water Quality Crisis 

On the need for collaboration at all levels of government to combat this crisis:

“Today’s tour around Monmouth County highlights what we have known for years; our communities need help more than ever to manage the life-threatening storms and flooding we continue to see at alarming frequency at home. By working together at the local, state, and federal levels, we can protect our towns from the next flash flood or Superstorm Sandy.”

…Senator Kim also heard from Belmar resident Krista Sperger, who recalled how her family’s home sat in five feet of water for days after Sandy—an ordeal that was compounded by red tape from insurance and disaster relief agencies. Her story underscored the human toll behind the environmental statistics.

While municipalities have invested in bioswales, living shorelines, and geese mitigation to improve their lakes, the scale of needed restoration far exceeds local budgets. Federal and state partnerships have become essential.  

Senator Kim has long been at the forefront of disaster relief and resilience efforts for New Jersey and across the country. As a member of the House of Representatives, then-Congressman Kim introduced bipartisan legislation that would fortify New Jersey roads and infrastructure in the face of storm and flood risks. He also co-sponsored the Security After Sandy Act, which would forgive debt to the federal government for New Jerseyans and municipalities  still recovering from the Superstorm Sandy aftermath. Since joining the Senate in December 2024, Senator Kim serves as the top Democrat in charge of FEMA, where he works to hold the Trump Administration accountable to ensure our communities are adequately prepared for hurricane season. 

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