Fire island, NY. Aerial pictures of Fire island, after superstorm Sandy devastated the area. Photo courtesy of: © Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) / WCU
In 2012, Superstorm Sandy opened up a new inlet on Fire Island National Seashore.
Upon the request of the Commissioner heading up the New York Department of Conservation, and owing to the prompt intervention of a community of coastal scientists led by PSDS Director Rob Young, submitting an expert statement explaining why leaving inlets open after a storm was important, the decision to leave the inlet open was ultimately taken.
WATCH: The breach at Fire Island National Seashore, A Youtube Video, Uploaded on October 25, 2017.
A 12-minute video showing how this storm-formed inlet has transformed water quality in the estuary.