Expert points to erosion as houses collapse in Outer Banks, says there is no clear solution
8.85, OK, BE PATIENT. THANK
YOU, BRIAN. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
NEW PICTURE OF THE DEBRIS ON
OUR SHORELINE. YOU SEE ALL OF
THE WOOD PANELING THERE.
THIS IS PART OF THE AFTERMATH.
>> AFTER SEVERAL HOMES COLLAPSE
OF THE OUTER BANKS YESTERDAY.
JUST ONE GIANT MESS. OF COURSE,
THAT'S GOING INTO THE OCEAN.
LOOK AT THIS NEW PICTURE OF
THE DEBRIS HERE. AGAIN, THIS
IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT CREWS
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT.
NOT JUST THE WOODS, THE NAILS
AND EVERYTHING INSIDE THAT
HOUSE THAT CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM
GETS WASHED OUT.
>> INTO THE WATER AND ON OUR
SHORELINE WITH EACH HOME THAT
FALLS CONCERNS ON THE COAST
CONTINUE TO RISE. WRAL'S
KIRSTEN CLARK SPOKE WITH AN
EXPERT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT.
IT'S A NIGHTMARE FOR BEACH
FRONT. HOME OWNERS HOUSES
COLLAPSING ONE BY ONE, LOSING
A BATTLE TO THE SEA. IT'S SUCH
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR THOSE
WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND.
LAURA MOORE IS A PROFESSOR OF
EARTH MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES AT UNC CHAPEL HILL.
SHE HAS LONG STUDIED PATTERNS
ALONG THE COAST AND THE IMPACT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
UNFORTUNATELY BUXTON AROUND AND
THEY ARE ONE OF THESE PLACES
WHERE
>> THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SAND
COMING IN TO REPLACE THIS.
AND THAT'S BEING MOVED OUT BY A
LONG SHORE CURRENTS. AND SO
THE SHORELINE IS MOVING LAND
WERE CHRONICALLY.
>> THE SHORELINE IS ERODING.
MANY SUGGEST BEACH
REPLENISHMENT AS A SOLUTION.
BUT MOORE SAYS WHAT'S
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING IN
THESE AREAS IS THE AMOUNT OF
SAND THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO
COUNTER THE LONG-TERM EROSION.
IT'S.
>> THE QUANTITIES ARE LARGE.
THE FREQUENCY WOULD HAVE TO BE
SO OFTEN THAT IT'S REALLY
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. SHE TELLS
ME THERE'S AN EXPECTED INCREASE
IN THE FREQUENCY OF SEVERE
STORMS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
THOSE STORMS ARE OCCURRING ON
HIGHER WATER LEVELS THAN IN
THE PAST AND THEY'RE MORE
INTENSE. WHAT IS THE SOLUTION
HERE?
>> IF
WE WON THE LANDSCAPE TO PERSIST
IN THE LONG TERM. THE IDEAL
SOLUTION IS TO ADOPT WITH IT IN
SOME WAY.
>> ONE BELIEVES LAWMAKERS ARE
MAKING AN EFFORT TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROVIDE
RESOURCES FOR BUYOUTS OR
OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE HOMES,
TO HIRE, LESS, THREATENED TO
GROUND.
>> NORTH CAROLINA HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO. BE AN EXAMPLE
FOR OTHER AREAS. IF WE COULD
FIGURE THIS OUT AND FIND A WAY
FORWARD THAT WOULD SUPPORT
HOMEOWNERS AND SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESSING THIS
AND EQUITABLE WAY FOR EVERYONE,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO VISIT THE
PARK. THAT EFFORT NEEDED MORE
NOW THAN EVER AS DEBRIS RIDDLES
THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST.