Psychological Impact/Massive Seawall Construction

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

In 2004 when I saw other communities I had fond memories of
torn to shreds here in Florida, I felt upset. My area had been
spared, but I had spent a lot of time and had great childhood
memories of places like Captiva Island and parts of the FL East Coast,
both of which where hit by majors last year. When i saw these places
torn to shreds by the hurricanes, I was very much upset.

After Katrina, I am even more upset by this whole catastrophic cycle.
What's so tragic is that we have built so many cities, homes, and MEMORIES in areas that are vulnerable to catastrophes following major hurricane strikes.

Coming from a 17-year old high-school senior:
Might it be feasable to construct large seawalls to protect cities
near the water?

[wxmann_91]

Question is will Congress fund it?

Even if it is feasible (it is probably not since the coast is thousands of miles long and for the wall to be effective it has to be at least 20 feet high), it would cost billions and billions to construct it.

[kevin]

Question is will Congress fund it?

Even if it is feasible (it is probably not since the coast is thousands of miles long and for the wall to be effective it has to be at least 20 feet high), it would cost billions and billions to construct it.

He said cities, not the whole coastline.

[wxmann_91]

Question is will Congress fund it?

Even if it is feasible (it is probably not since the coast is thousands of miles long and for the wall to be effective it has to be at least 20 feet high), it would cost billions and billions to construct it.

He said cities, not the whole coastline.

Cities cover almost every mile of the coastline nowadays.

[Terry]

I'm a native Floridian, TampaBayHurricane and I "hear" your pain. But may be since I am a native (who is old enough to be your grandma), I remember the earlier active hurricane years. So I've always assumed we'd have big problems when the "hurricane years" returned with our way too populated coasts.

Seawalls erode with the tides and surf, but there are probably some other options that can help prevent severe damage from Cat 3's or less. As for a Cat 4 or Cat 5, I've always assumed that my 56 year old home in Anna Maria will be gone. Sensible beach renourishment, planting of sea oats, etc., quality construction...all will help.

With so much attention on this problem and so many more active years of hurricanes on the horizon, I fully assume some quakery and some quality ideas to be developed that may or may not help us "coasties."

[thunderchief]

It depends where you live. Its probably cheaper to rebuild most locations every so often than armor them extensively. Consider that natural decay, civic progression, is going to render most buildings obsolete within 100 years anyway. Since the average periodic destruction by hurricane(for most locations) is probably no shorther than the average periodic human replacement, then we just have to rebuild every so often after the epic storms.

Now obviously if you live right on the beach in cape hateras, the keys, some other particularly exposed barrier islands then investing money in an extra well built house is a good idea, since your average periodic destruction there is going to be much shorter.

[MGC]

So far it has worked for Galveston. While not pratical for the whole coast, in some places it might be a good idea. New Orleans needs to have a levee system simular to the Great Wall of China. A massive structure ringing the city is the only option. It will cost billions but I see no other long term solution short of relocating the entire city, which in itself would be prohitively expensive.......MGC

[f5]

So far it has worked for Galveston. While not pratical for the whole coast, in some places it might be a good idea. New Orleans needs to have a levee system simular to the Great Wall of China. A massive structure ringing the city is the only option. It will cost billions but I see no other long term solution short of relocating the entire city, which in itself would be prohitively expensive.......MGC

the city is also sinking

[caribepr]

Growing up in Florida, many of us who watched coastal development came to look on seawalls as the enemy of the coast itself, with many instances available to prove it. This is a summary of an article that goes into much more depth on the subject. Every coin has two sides.





The Utilization of Seawalls in
Response to Shoreline Erosion

Consequences, Socio-Economic, Political and
Legal Forces, and Alternatives

Shawn W. Kelly

Donald Bren School of
Environmental Science and Management
University of California, Santa Barbara

November 30, 2000


Executive Summary
When coastal buildings or roads are threatened, the typical response is to harden the coast with a seawall. Seawalls run parallel to the beach and can be built of concrete, wood, steel, or boulders. Seawalls are also called bulkheads or revetments; the distinction is mainly a matter of
purpose. They are designed to halt shoreline erosion caused primarily by wave action. If seawalls are maintained, they may temporarily hold back the ocean from encroaching on shoreline development. In spite of their ability to hold back the ocean, when waves hit a seawall, the
waves are reflected back out to sea, taking beach sand with them and eventually causing the beach to disappear. Moreover, seawalls can cause increased erosion at the ends of the seawall on an
adjacent beach that is not walled. Alternatives to seawalls exist, such as beach nourishment and managed retreat. Making coastal land use decisions that ensure a seawall will not be needed in the future to protect structures, however, is the most prudent coastal management solution. This can be accomplished by establishing setback lines and conducting managed retreat of structures that are threatened by shoreline erosion before the situation worsens, or structures that have the potential for being threatened in the future. Regional case studies are presented to illustrate.

The rest of the article can be found here:

http://www.msi.ucsb.edu/msilinks/OCPC/PDFs/Seawall.pdf

[oneness]

The Japanese turned most of their coastline into reinforced concrete over recent decades. It might be an idea to find out the pros and cons of that in terms of surge mitigation effectiveness and aesthetic and environmental impacts.

[caribepr]

The Japanese turned most of their coastline into reinforced concrete over recent decades. It might be an idea to find out the pros and cons of that in terms of surge mitigation effectiveness and aesthetic and environmental impacts.

The Japanese also built a huge water park with a fake ocean with fake waves for surfing...ON THE BEACH. They are weird (not being contentious, just kidding - except the park thing is true!)

[oneness]

Yep, they get up to some weird stuff ... like making 'walls' out of rice paper ... they make awesome motorbikes though.

[wxman57]

Question is will Congress fund it?

Even if it is feasible (it is probably not since the coast is thousands of miles long and for the wall to be effective it has to be at least 20 feet high), it would cost billions and billions to construct it.

Congress doesn't have a penny. Their money is our money. Will WE fund it?

[mikey mike]

We have a seawall running the entire length of our beach.Didn't stop the water here.Come down and see for yourself.Then ask that question again.

[beachbum_al]

Coming from a 35 year old: I watch the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area be ripped to shreds from Ivan and being from here it hurt deeply. But I also witness the kindness from complete strangers helping others out during the time of crisis. For some reason disaster brings out the goodness in the human spirit.

2005 I watched areas like NO and the Mississippi Coast be completely level. Even though I don't live in those areas it hurt deeply because those are my neighbors. The same people who were down here in Sept of 2005 helping us during Ivan. Also I spent many of weekend along the Coast throughout my lifetime. I also watch the coastal areas of Alabama be destroyed including Fairhope. To go down to an area where you have many memories with your son, uncle, and dad and see it completely destroyed hurts. At least I have the memories though. My son and uncle are no longer living.

Storm Wall? Well I thought we were safe in Fairhope but when you have a storm surge like Mobile Bay had with Katrina no one is safe.

So yes I would say the psychological side is difficult but on the other hand it has made me realize that no matter what people will make it through it!

[O Town]

The Japanese turned most of their coastline into reinforced concrete over recent decades. It might be an idea to find out the pros and cons of that in terms of surge mitigation effectiveness and aesthetic and environmental impacts.

Come on now. Concret beach??? Really. I would never want to go, and I love the beach. Just man trying to suppress mother nature again. I think we need to revert back to mother nature if anything. Natural seawalls made of sand and plants, and maybe stop building so close to the water, although thats not gonna happen either I am afraid. I don't think theres much of nothing we do can protect us from these hurricanes, it is the risk you take when building or moving on or near the water.

I hate to see places I grew up going to destroyed as well . There is this place on New Symrna beach that I have been to often, my friend was just there and says there is no beach left. Used to be 50 yards from the restaurant to the water. She says now the waves are breaking right at the restaurant. Sad. Hopefully some natural sand restoration will take place soon. I am afraid if they manually do it the next seasons storms will take it all back out to sea.

[oneness]

The Japanese turned most of their coastline into reinforced concrete over recent decades. It might be an idea to find out the pros and cons of that in terms of surge mitigation effectiveness and aesthetic and environmental impacts.

Come on now. Concret beach??? Really. I would never want to go, and I love the beach. Just man trying to suppress mother nature again. I think we need to revert back to mother nature if anything. Natural seawalls made of sand and plants, and maybe stop building so close to the water, although thats not gonna happen either I am afraid. I don't think theres much of nothing we do can protect us from these hurricanes, it is the risk you take when building or moving on or near the water.

I hate to see places I grew up going to destroyed as well . There is this place on New Symrna beach that I have been to often, my friend was just there and says there is no beach left. Used to be 50 yards from the restaurant to the water. She says now the waves are breaking right at the restaurant. Sad. Hopefully some natural sand restoration will take place soon. I am afraid if they manually do it the next seasons storms will take it all back out to sea.

heh … I didn't say I liked the idea. People were talking about a system of sea walls and coastal hardening. The Japanese actually tried this on a large-scale. Personally I think the idea of doing that to a coast stinks, is a folly and will waste money. Better to invest the money on better buildings and their relocation to less vulnerable locations.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Thanks all for the info

[caribepr]

Thanks all for the info

Well, info doesn't help with the hurting parts, but it can at least be a diversion for a little while!

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Yes. The info is an excellent diversion

It still hurts to think that so many people live in so many vulnerable
areas...

I am extremely lucky, my immediate area dodged many bullets-
the psychological impact for me would have been horrific if a major storm
had struck my area directly.

We get stong Tropical storm or low-end category one impacts...nothing
worse in the last decade....

One thing is for sure...next year someone's world will never be the same-
given that so many ppl are in vulnerable areas (including me), and
given that this is a true active cycle