POINT PLEASANT BEACH The fed-eral government is set to spend nearly$14 million on Coast Guard StationManasquan Inlet to protect it from fu-ture storms like superstorm Sandy.

The transformation is part of a re-development plan to centralize all thestations operations in a new 19,100-square-foot, three-story building. Theboathouse and crew barracks will betorn down, but the historic admini-stration office will remain, officialssaid.

Right now, there are three sepa-

rate buildings for the operation, saidElena Soini, executive petty officerfor the station located on the PointPleasant Beach side of the Manas-quan Inlet. This was a plan that hasbeen in the works for years.

The new facility will be fundedthrough the $60 billion Disaster Re-lief Appropriations Act, signed intolaw by President Barack Obama onJan. 29. The spending plan sets asidemoney for federal agencies impactedby Sandy, including nearly $144 mil-lion for the Coast Guard.

The contract for the project is ex-

$13.7 MILLIONThe new station will be funded throughthe Disaster Relief Appropriations Act,

which sets aside money for federal agen-cies impacted by superstorm Sandy. Allthree buildings at the station flooded

during the storm, causing $2.1 million indamage.

500-YEAR STORMThe historic administration building willbe preserved but the old boathouse andbarracks will be torn down. Operations

will be centralized in a new, 19,100-square-foot building able to withstand a500-year storm, which has a 0.2 percent

chance of happening in any year.

BATTENINGTHE HATCHES

Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet set for rebuild

Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet Commanding Officer Michael Mahoney stands atop the station in PointPleasant Beach, which is to get a major makeover. THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

By Nicholas Huba @nicholashuba PROTECTING OUR COAST

Coast Guard Station Ma-nasquan Inlet is responsible

for the shoreline from SpringLake to Seaside Heights andup to 48 miles offshore. On atypical summer weekend, as

many as 1,600 boats passthrough the inlet.

See COAST, Page A6

Asbury Park Press APP.COM $1.00

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