How are you guys doing with the storms?
- Thread starter scook
- Start date
It was at the outter banks in Buxton NC. It is a long barrier island off the coast of NC. The particular stretch where the houses got swallowed is said to be losing 15 ft of shoreline per year to erosion. It has long been known that the barrier islands are not stationary. I saw the videos as well, it is crazy. Plus, to imagine, the homes behind those houses are now ocean front and will likely be swallowed up in the not to distant future. I love the outter banks but I don't think I'd ever want to own anything there. There's only one way in and when these events happen the road often gets flooded/taken out leaving folks either stranded or unable to get in to check on things.
I know the home owners and businesses were using sandbags which help greatly during events like this but when the island is "moving" at such a rate I don't believe there is any real solution. Mother nature is gonna have her way.
Pipe_Dream
God
The shore is the most dynamic (see unstable) environment geologically speaking. One has to question the wisdom of building and living on what is basically a big sandbar. Yet here I am . . .
phatdaddy
God
The east coast of Florida was smarter than the Gulf side, most of their construction was behind the primary due line. Over here, they bulldozed down the dune line and built on it, so now they cry for help and FEMA money when a storm hits. So the federal govt, in it's infinite wisdom, "renourishes" the beaches by pumping sand back on the beach adding 200 to 400 feet of beach back to the coastline.
Problem solved,right. When they dredge it causes a valley in the natural slope of the coastal profile, which lets the larger swells get closer to the beach This causes faster than normal erosion of the sand migrating to level the valley. This means instead of a 10 -15 year fix ,it's about a 5-7 year fix. It's a Federally funded con game to fix a problem thats really not a problem. 100 years ago, nobody built on barrier islands, they knew better, They had fishing shacks or cabins, but if a storm hit, no big deal. Pick up the scraps and start over. Now the banks and insurance companies have billions & billions invested in the coastal areas.
Who do u think is going to win that battle? Common Sense or Big Money
If sand is washing away, how is piling more sand going to solve the problem
Problem solved,right. When they dredge it causes a valley in the natural slope of the coastal profile, which lets the larger swells get closer to the beach This causes faster than normal erosion of the sand migrating to level the valley. This means instead of a 10 -15 year fix ,it's about a 5-7 year fix. It's a Federally funded con game to fix a problem thats really not a problem. 100 years ago, nobody built on barrier islands, they knew better, They had fishing shacks or cabins, but if a storm hit, no big deal. Pick up the scraps and start over. Now the banks and insurance companies have billions & billions invested in the coastal areas.
Who do u think is going to win that battle? Common Sense or Big Money
If sand is washing away, how is piling more sand going to solve the problem
scook
God
To modify an old phrase “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you” to forget common sense 
. If there’s anything the government can’t get wrong, I haven’t seen it.
I think about my grandparents - they never dreamed that they weren’t on their own to make their lives work and take care of their property. That’s how we’ve lived too. Hopefully the common sense pendulum is swinging back a bit.
. If there’s anything the government can’t get wrong, I haven’t seen it.I think about my grandparents - they never dreamed that they weren’t on their own to make their lives work and take care of their property. That’s how we’ve lived too. Hopefully the common sense pendulum is swinging back a bit.
Pipe_Dream
God
Our little house is 4/10 of a mile from the beach. Single story, frame on slab, built 1980. Slab elevation is 13' above sea level. Surrounded by large oak trees. So a major storm will be really bad, between the winds and the storm surge. When we evacuated for Matthew (which made landfall north of us 9 years ago yesterday) we didn't think it would be that bad. Later from our hotel in Georgia watched the reports, we thought we wouldn't have a home to return to. Ultimately the western eyewall passed us by about 8 miles offshore as a CAT 2. Our house was relatively untouched despite losing 8 trees, but the Pipe Dream didn't fare well. My fault, as I guess I got lulled into a false sense of security since so many forecasted storms didn't scathe us. That's the last time I'll make that mistake.Are you back far enough from the beach?
So we've been in our house 30 years, and if we're lucky enough we will have maybe 20+ more good years in it, God willing and the creek don't rise. But is it wise to live on a barrier island? No, but it sure is nice.