Carper praises hurricane preparedness, ‘Extreme’ build

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper toured post-hurricane Sussex County on Monday, Aug. 29, under sunny skies, and in Fenwick Island, he found that no news is good news.

Carper was briefed on Hurricane Irene’s impact by representatives from several agencies, including the Town of Fenwick Island, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Delaware Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

The Army Corps had just completed Fenwick Island’s most recent beach replenishment in mid-August. Despite what many considered the poor timing of doing replenishment during the busy summer season, it was perfect timing for the hurricane season. The extra sand likely protected the beach and dunes from much erosion.

“It may have saved a significant part of the town,” Carper said from the beachfront. “We would probably be in the water right now.”

The sand stretched toward the ocean for yards, indicating how much of the beach survived the storm.

“The real impact is economic damage,” said Lt. Col. Philip Seccrist, commander for the Corps’ Philadelphia District.

Seccrist said it may take six months just to determine initial estimates of how much the storm could have – and did – cost.

He and Carper remarked that there was no significant beach damage.

“I think we dodged a bullet for the whole state,” Carper said. “I think we dodged a missile.”

The potential and actual impacts of the storm were serious enough for Gov. Jack Markell to have declared a state of emergency in Delaware. Carper explained that, once the president approves a governor’s request for declaration of emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide assistance. Also, the federal government will help pay for emergency supplies and activation of the National Guard, which was called out to help with evacuation, among other storm-related efforts.

While two Lewes-area housing developments were devastated by a reported tornado, resulting in damage to as many as 50 houses, generally, Delaware seems to have only seen heavy winds, much debris and some flooding.

“Assessment is under way to see if there is enough damage to be eligible for further federal assistance – which, honest to God, I’d be surprised if there is – which is actually good news,” Carper said.

He praised people who followed evacuation orders and prepared for the worst.

The storm also had only minimal impact on the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” building site near Harbeson. The one-week project was delayed by about 36 hours, but there was little physical damage on the site.

The television show’s first-ever Delaware build has been constructing a new home, soup kitchen and other buildings for the Jusst Sooup Ranch, with the resulting show set to air around Thanksgiving.

Carper discussed the project with Chris Schell, co-founder of Schell Brothers builders, “Extreme” Executive Producer George Verschoor and numerous volunteers as he toured the rapidly built structures on Monday. Carper also visited Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, Rehoboth Beach and the Indian River Inlet Bridge during his Sussex tour early this week.