By Zachary Stieber Epoch Times Staff Created: March 4, 2013 Last Updated: March 5, 2013

A front end loader cleans a still-closed beach area damaged by Hurricane Sandy on March 1 in Staten Island, a borough of New York City. The borough's beaches will be the first to get restored, beginning in April. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORKRestoration of the beachesdamaged by Hurricane Sandy will begin in April on Staten Island

A bid will go out this month for the work on Staten Islands eastern and southern shores, which were among the hardest hit areas by the storm. Work is expected to start in April. After that, work will move to other coastal areas in the region, including on Long Island.

A plan developed by the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild the beaches will be given to the city so contractors can be hired quickly and start work, according to CBS New York, citing Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Todays announcement should give homeowners a lot of solace, said Schumer. They will have protection and they will have it soon.

Depending on the area, there will be berms and dunes installed for protection, according to Schumer. Normally, the Army Corps doesnt work on projects before a plan is created. At Schumers urging, the Corps completed a plan for Staten Island within weeksthe plans usually take up to 18 months.

That is much too long to wait, given how denuded the beaches are, and how worried people are about a second Sandy, Schumer told the Staten Island Advance.

Beaches on Staten Island, including South Beach, Midland Beach, and Tottenville Beach, lost between 10 and 20 feet of sand in length and four to six feet in height, according to Schumers office.

At least 75 percent of the funding for the Staten Island work will come from FEMA, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomos office.

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Restoration to Hurricane-Hit Beaches to Begin April in NYC