When the storm hits: How Mobi-mat® can help a Beach Club reopen in record time ?
Coastal environments are beautiful—but unforgiving. When a late-summer 2025 hurricane struck the New Jersey shoreline, beach operators faced flooded grounds, shifting sand, and intense wave action. For Mobi-mat® users, the real test wasn't just surviving the storm—it was how quickly they could recover and safely reopen.
A real-world test under extreme conditions
At Promenade Beach Club in Long Beach New Jersey, Mobi-mats were installed in front of and beneath fully loaded cabanas—directly in the storm's path. As the hurricane hit, the mats were submerged and repeatedly pounded by waves, alongside cabanas carrying heavy loads.
What happened next speaks volumes about durability and recovery speed.
Tested by Nature, Proven in Recovery
After the storm passed, the team mobilized fast. In just 36 hours, they completed what typically takes a full week of work—clearing debris, regrading sand, and preparing the site to reopen for the remainder of the season.
Crucially:
- Anchors held firm throughout the storm.
- Mats were rolled up, power-washed, and staged.
- Once bulldozers finished reshaping the beach, the mats were reinstalled in approximately two hours.
This rapid turnaround meant the difference between reopening and losing the rest of the season.
Why Modular Matters?
The owner contrasted this outcome with previous rigid walkway systems used on the beach. Those systems, he noted, would likely have:
- Destroyed the fronts of cabanas
- Led to significant losses
- Prevented a timely reopening
Modular, roll-out mats offered flexibility—easy removal before heavy equipment arrived and fast redeployment once conditions stabilized.
Customer Testimonial
"That hurricane at the end of the summer hit us pretty good. The mats were in front, and under water getting pounded, as were our fully loaded cabanas.
We did a week's worth of work in 36 hrs to reopen and finish the season. The mat anchors held. We rolled them up, power washed them, and when the bulldozers were finished had them back down in 2 hrs.
Had they been the treks walk ways I used to have, they'd have destroyed the fronts of my cabanas, lost most of them, and we would not have been able to reopen."
— John T. Chimento, Owner, Promenade Beach Club
Beyond Storm Recovery: Year-Round Beach Accessibility
While storm resilience is crucial for coastal operators, creating an accessible beach environment year-round is equally important. Mobi-mat's modular design not only enables rapid recovery after extreme weather but also addresses common accessibility challenges that beach clubs face daily. Discover the 5 main accessibility challenges and how Mobi-mat® solves them to create an inclusive beach experience for all visitors.
Visual Evidence: From Storm to Recovery
During the storm: Mobi-mats® and cabanas submerged and pounded by hurricane waves
After the storm: Debris and shifted sand covering the beach area
Recovery complete: Beach reopened in just 36 hours thanks to Mobi-mat's quick reinstallation
