2013 Cape May County Tourism Conference Developing a Game Plan – Lessons Learned from Sandy Presented by Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders Gerald M. Thornton, Director Leonard C. Desiderio, Vice Director Kristine Gabor Will Morey Cape May County Department of Tourism E. Marie Hayes Diane F. Wieland, Director
[email protected] April 25, 2013 0 Developing a game plan – Lessons learned from Sandy 2012 represents 18 straight years of tourism growth for Cape May County Jersey Strong - For many who were left to clean up the mess left by Superstorm Sandy, the event will become a benchmark for telling time – What happened before Sandy and what happened after Sandy. Reports of changes in the landscape of the Jersey Shore were predicted and as we all move forward we will see some subtle – and many major – differences along the New Jersey coastline. Change for whatever reason is usually good and often unplanned. In the end, the four counties that make up the 127 miles of New Jersey coast and generate $19 Billion in expenditures will be a better place to live and visit. The more noticeable and tangible landscape changes will be north of Atlantic County but new regulations; mandated changes in building codes and revised FEMA flood maps will make a difference in the southern coastal towns as well. The looming changes will have its greatest impact on the real estate market that was beginning to show some positive movement after the recession. Cape May County dodged the bullet, this time. The next storm of the century could be just around the corner.