Post-Erin erosion at Jersey shore beaches

At the Jersey Shore, some beaches now look like sand cliffs with steep and potentially dangerous drop-offs. It's the aftermath of the rough surf caused by Hurricane Aaron's pass off the coast last week. Now there's a rush to get things as close to normal as possible ahead of the summer's final holiday weekend. New Jersey correspondent Trish Hartman reports from Strathmere. Crews here in Strathmere were on the beach working first thing this morning, and they're still out here now moving sand around trying to recreate those beach access points. After the storm, officials say 12 beach paths were no longer usable. They've already reopened a few of them. Officials say they're going to do their best to have as many access points open as possible for Labor Day. Folks trying to visit the beaches in Strathmere may have had to walk a few extra blocks. Some entrances were closed because they look like this. We've been coming here so many years and noticing how it's been eroding. But this is the worst we've ever seen it. After Hurricane Aaron swept past the Jersey Shore last week, several shore towns are dealing with significant beach erosion. Here in Strathmere, the beaches already had some erosion. Now there's a drop-off that's six to eight feet high in some spots. Today, equipment moved sand back up to the beach pass in an effort to open more of them for visitors. We have a crew that's getting ready to get back on the bulldozer here at low tide, and we plan on opening up three more today if we can. Another concern officials have with all these cliffs here now is keeping people away from them. They say that standing too close to the edge on the top or playing close to the edge at the bottom can result in a collapse and can be really dangerous. They're ready to collapse, and so that sand can collapse on somebody, and when they get buried, we're probably not going to get them out of there before they perish. So it's a very hazardous situation that people overlook. Officials know many families will come down for Labor Day to celebrate one last summer weekend. Until then, they say they'll be moving the sand around at low tide. Beaches will be open, as many as possible. We're not going to have 100%, but we're going to try to get as close as we can to it. Local officials say they are in touch with the state DEP, which is currently assessing shore points up and down the coast. Mayor Corson says a group of Jersey Shore mayors is set to meet with Congressman Jeff Van Drew this week to discuss ongoing beach replenishment needs. Reporting in Strathmere, New Jersey, Trish Hartman, Channel 6 Action News.