Halcrow Group Ltd., a London-based firm, took the concept one step further by looking to Queens for a solution. Their answer to barricading the boroughs from a storm surge that could reach as high as 25 feet? Create a five-mile long barrier between Breezy Point and Sandy Hook, N.J. and save the city from what Halcrow called a worst-case scenario: catastrophic flooding, loss of life and property damage in the range of $50 to $100 billion.
   Halcrow’s idea, which is still in its proposal phase, is modeled after a similar 15-mile barrier the company constructed in St. Petersburg, Russia to prevent land damage brought on by the Baltic Sea’s often extreme winds and waves. Halcrow said the barrier would be created from either armor rock or concrete armor units, be constructed in a manner that would neither adversely affect wildlife nor alter the natural beauty of Gateway National Recreation Area. Needless to say, the structure would also require a surge of funding to finance — $5.5 billion, to be exact.
   “We’re not considering the barriers right now,” said Chris Gilbride, a spokesperson for the Office of Emergency Management. “We haven’t seen a comprehensive analysis on what they can do, and they’d be very expensive.”
   Hurricane seasons started on June 1 and will continue through Nov. 30. Although the Department of Atmospheric Science has estimated the Atlantic coast will receive about five hurricanes during the 2009 hurricane season, which it considers slightly below average activity, the OEM has issued a plan should the city experience a Category 3 or Category 4 storm.
   Gilbride said there are plans in place to evacuate 2.3 million people and place 605,000 people in shelters, which have already been identified and stocked with supplies.
   For more information about hurricane disaster prevention, visit the OEM’s website at nyc.gov/oem.