Rising seas, stronger storms, and relentless erosion are reshaping America's coastlines and forcing communities to make difficult choices. Special correspondent Ben Tracy of Climate Central reports on two Atlantic coast communities grappling with erosion, as part of the Tipping Point series.
Along much of the Atlantic Coast, homeowners face a tough question: how to protect a place when the shoreline you built your life around starts to disappear. In Buxton, North Carolina, Lat Williams described the loss of beachfront homes due to erosion, stating that twenty-one houses on the Outer Banks collapsed into the Atlantic in the past year after storms and waves eroded the sand beneath them. At one point, five homes fell in just 45 minutes.
Williams and his wife, Debbie, witnessed their house become precariously close to the water and decided it was time to move. Last November, they relocated their three-bedroom house two blocks inland, purchasing a new lot 600 feet from the water for over a quarter-million dollars, impacting their retirement fund.
Many homeowners cannot afford such moves, and most flood insurance policies do not pay until a house is submerged. Dave Hallac, Superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, noted the debris left after homes collapsed, indicating that the ocean is encroaching on developments built decades ago when they were hundreds of feet from the shore.
Reide Corbett, a coastal scientist at East Carolina University, highlighted that erosion rates in some areas reach 10 to 15 feet per year, with significant beachfront loss occurring within a single mortgage period. As climate change continues to raise sea levels, stronger storms push water further inland. Corbett emphasized the need for communities like the Outer Banks to have honest discussions about living near the water.
Research from Climate Central indicates that by 2050, approximately 2.5 million Americans and 1.4 million homes could be at risk from severe coastal flooding. In Connecticut, Tim Rath is raising his home to protect it from flooding, a process that costs $50,000. He has lived in his home for 42 years and has experienced multiple major floods.
In Buxton, efforts are underway to rebuild the beach to protect the local economy, with Dare County Manager Bobby Outten stating that the beach is essential for the community's existence. Rebuilding the beach costs about $50 million, and they have undertaken this project three times in the last decade. Critics argue that such efforts may not be sustainable long-term.
Lat Williams acknowledged the changes brought by climate change and emphasized the need for adaptation rather than abandonment. He expressed gratitude for still having his home despite the altered view, noting that they named their house "Answered Prayers" to reflect their resilience.