A Pressure Campaign Leads to a $1.75 Billion Rescue

The Situation

In December 2022, a series of storms destroyed a 2019 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach fortification project on Fire Island, presenting an existential threat to communities on the barrier island off Long Island’s South Shore. Mounting pleas to the government for an emergency repair were rejected.

What We Found

The facts demanded immediate intervention, but the scale of the risk to both the island and the mainland was not breaking through to government officials or the  media. Faced with a burgeoning crisis, local leaders turned to us to lead an effort to save their communities.

How We Moved

We mounted an intensive pressure campaign, alerting the media to the crisis and building a coalition supporting government action. Our efforts created a steady drumbeat of local and national coverage, while town, county, state, and federal elected officials publicly demanded action. The efforts forced agencies to reengage, leading the Army Corps to reconsider, and ultimately construct a new, $52 million beach. Our efforts led New York State to allocate $1.7 billion to maintain Long Island’s South Shore beaches for the next quarter century.