Orrin Pilkey, always a lightening-rod for coastal climate change issues, has written a gloomy forecast for the world’s beaches, and has the photos to justify his positions. He acknowledges that predicting the effects of sea level rise on beaches is complex, and that results will vary greatly depending on many factors. But overall, the picture […]
Tag Archives | building
New Research on the Benefits and Detriments of Coastal Armoring
Posted on March 4, 2011
A new paper looking at structural shore protection in Massachusetts and Hawaii finds a few things to like, and a lot to cause consternation. Among the benefits: Stabilizes the upland Protects infrastructure Maintains property values for some . . . And the detriments: Source sediment impoundment resulting in increased erosion of the fronting and adjacent […]
Do Sea Walls Cause more Harm than Good? More Evidence Suggests Yes
Posted on January 10, 2011
A new article reiterates that seawalls may increase erosion rates of beaches, so while they (temporarily) protect what’s behind them, it’s at the expense of the beach in front of them. “We thought we could engineer and control nature by these techniques, but you’re fighting a losing battle,” [Rick Murray of Scituate] said. “And the […]
Model Bylaw for Managing Coastal Floodplain Development
Posted on November 5, 2010
Any of us who have worked in more than one coastal community know this simple truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all activity to make communities safer from storms and flooding. Geography and geology vary. Community goals and political climates vary. Organizational structures within communities vary (Do you have a mayor? A town manager? A Board of Selectmen?). […]
Free StormSmart Building Seminar: [November 17th, Plymouth]
Posted on October 27, 2010
The towns of Plymouth, Kingston and Duxbury and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s StormSmart Coasts program are hosting a free workshop on building in the coastal floodplain on November 17th at Plymouth Town Hall. Members of the construction industry and local officials are invited to participate. The agenda is as follows: 8:30 (AM) […]
Quick Proof that Building Codes Work [video]
Posted on October 27, 2010
The Institute for Business and Home Safety built a proper hurricane making machine, then constructed two homes in front of it. One was built to standard building codes, the other to their “Fortified for Safer Living” code. They turned the hurricane on and, well, you can see the results. Wow. Show this the next time […]
Hurricane Earl and Erosion Take Nantucket House
Posted on September 20, 2010
This month’s hurricane dealt a final blow to a long-threatened waterfront house on Nantucket. Reflecting a national trend, the owner’s daughter compares town officials to “ostriches, with their heads buried in their hands” [sic]. Town says “Erosion is a fact of life when you live on an island. I don’t think there’s an overwhelming problem […]
FEMA Releases Guidance for 2011 Mitigation Grant Programs
Posted on July 21, 2010
Via the always useful CZMA Climate Change and Coastal Hazards E-News Update newsletter: The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program Guidance” (176 pp.) represents the unification of all five of the agency’s hazard mitigation grant programs into one guidance document. These programs, which provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce […]
3ft of Freeboard? I'll Take 12ft!
Posted on July 19, 2010
After Hurricane Ike bashed a hole in their roof and left their first floor uninhabitable, FEMA experts recommended that Galveston (TX) residents Matt and Lauren Johnson elevate their home 3′ above the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. The Johnsons went for 12′ instead. “Even if it costs us more now, whatever costs […]
Editorial Advises Better Planning and Building, NOT the Ike Dike
Posted on May 28, 2010
A new Houston Chronicle article argues that building the so-called “Ike Dike” will put more, not less people and property at great risk, and that the best way to protect property from hazards is to keep them out of hazardous areas. In “Forget the Ike Dike, let’s improve building methods” Texas A&M professor John Jacob […]