Beach Erosion at the Jersey Shore

Just weeks ago residents and vacationers were sunbathing on the sand in Stone Harbor. Now the beach is all but gone.

Days of driving winds and punishing waves have pounded away at the shoreline, carrying away sand and leaving steep carved out cliffs.

Officials say beaches up and down Cape May County are badly eroded.

Hours after afternoon high tide, some streets still flooded with feet of water, the bay pouring past pavement into garages and homes.

For residents who were preparing for the worst, this is the best they say they hoped for.

Officials must now work out refurbishing plans for the dunes here, but because the state declared a state of emergency last week, officials say the process should begin quickly.