Despite the fury Hurricane Florence unleashed along the coastline of the Carolinas, areas with wide sandy beaches and high dunes fared well in the face of an unprecedented onslaught of storm surge and waves. Although the coastline suffered significant erosion, restored beaches accomplished their design purpose of protecting upland properties and communities. While communities are…
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were, and continue to be, life-changing events for millions of Americans. These coastal storms brought devastation far beyond waterfront homes, reminding us that the coastal flood zone can range miles inland. As communities throughout the impacted coastal zone begin to recover and rebuild, their focus should be on building back better…
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, attention has been focused on rebuilding resilient coastal systems to reduce damage from future disasters. “Resilience” has been defined in a variety of ways; in general, resilience is having the capacity to recover or bounce back from adversity and adapt to be prepared for the future. Providing…
Almost four years after the devastation brought on by the landfall of Superstorm Sandy, coastal scientists and policy-makers are still working to fashion a response shaped by the lessons learned from the storm. Some of the battle is scope, particularly given Sandy’s unique size and attributes. Another factor is sound science, since gathering, analyzing and…