<p>People have no business living on barrier islands. I have no idea what to do about the fact that people live there. Living on a barrier island is not the same as living where tornadoes hit or snow falls. Building a house on a barrier island means you are building on something that, by definition, is unstable. They are built by the action of the waves and wind and will be changed by them. The act of building on them also weakens them, thus lessening the protection they provide to the mainland. They are typically anchored by natural grasses and shrubs, which is destroyed by development. It goes against common sense to put concrete, asphalt, wood and nails on them to be swept and blown away.</p>
<p>My mother in Wilton just got her power back. Surprisingly quickly.</p>
<p>bethievt, I believe the comment about “self satisfied” was not directed to people in general like you that have generators. I think a poster was responding to another particular poster who was implying many people should have prepared better (as that poster had by having a generator). Anyway, that’s my take on it.</p>
<p>Zoosermom–Where on the island did the tanker beach?</p>
<p>Thanks sevmom, just so.</p>
<p>limabeans I’m so sorry about your house :(</p>
<p>Richmond Terrace. By Snug Harbor.</p>
<p>I hear the comments about not building on barrier islands every time there is a storm. Before this the big storm everyone talked about was the Ash Wednesday storm of 62. So every 50-100 years there is a huge storm with a large impact.</p>
<p>In the meantime, the resort towns take in millions of dollars that go to all sorts of small businesses. People get to relax by the waterside, something humans have done for thousands of years. </p>
<p>Yes, we often have to shore up the dunes, but taxes in the resort areas (as well as other costs) are high and I don’t mind paying a bit to protect our beach and property.</p>
<p>You can’t turn back time. Many of these beach towns (on LBI at least) were first inhabited by people living in little summer cottages - limited utilities, no air-conditioning, not nearly the infrastructure there is today. Perhaps growth could have been checked a little. But you can’t put that genie back in the bottle. Too many people have gotten too much enjoyment and too many businesses are thriving due to the seashore life.</p>
<p>oops sevmom, I guess I over-reacted. Not the first time.</p>
<p>FYI- all NJ beaches are public. Some do charge beach fees (tags), a few are free.</p>
<p>limabeans, I’m very glad to see you!</p>
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<p>Near my old house on Heberton Ave. As I remind myself where our house was via google satellite, I see it is only 4 or so blocks from the water. Still as I recall it was high. I wonder how they’re doing over there.</p>
<p>When I think of SI now I recall a bike trip I took in HS. I went to HS in Brooklyn and a school group took a week long bike trip into Jersey, camping, about 50 miles a day. We went over the VZ bridge, over SI (up up up and down down down…on the return it was decided it was easier to go around by the water!).</p>
<p>Since we moved away from SI when I was only 7 or 8, that’s my main memory.</p>
<p>limabeans, very sorry about your house but I’m glad no one was injured. It just takes time and, hopefully, your insurance money.</p>
<p>If there were a storm every fifty years, that would be one thing. But with global warming, unfortunately things are changing. The seas are rising and storms are getting worse. We could pretend that is not true, but pretending something is untrue doesn’t make you any drier when the waves come.</p>
<p>^ right, things are changing, and they will change back just as they always have in the past. Atlantic warmer, Atlantic cooler…Pacific cooler, Pacific warmer…Look back to the 1940’s and 50’s, many more hurricanes than past 30 years.</p>
<p>Global warming or no global warming…if you decide to live on the ocean, bad things will eventually happen. When it does happen, don’t scream out “where’s the help”.</p>
<p>limabeans, I’m so glad no one was hurt when that tree fell on your house. I hope that everything gets fixed promptly, and that your house is better than ever when you are done.</p>
<p>Boston is working on dealing with the trend of rising sea levels - more concentrated in the area than globally.</p>
<p>“Regardless of the ongoing national debate about climate change, Boston is calling the projected sea level rise a near-term risk. Projections range from 2 to 6 feet here by the end of the century, depending on how fast polar ice melts.”</p>
<p>[Boston</a> Plans For ‘Near-Term Risk’ Of Rising Tides | WBUR & NPR](<a href=“http://www.wbur.org/npr/159551828/boston-plans-for-near-term-risk-of-rising-tides]Boston”>Boston Plans For 'Near-Term Risk' Of Rising Tides | WBUR)</p>
<p>Sea-level trend chart in Boston.</p>
<p>[Sea</a> level trend in Boston - Boston.com](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/graphics/sea_level_trend_in_boston/]Sea”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/graphics/sea_level_trend_in_boston/)</p>
<p>“In recent years, state officials have changed codes to require developers building in areas prone to coastal flooding to erect the lowest floor of any new development or substantial renovation at least 2 feet above where water levels now rise during the most powerful storms. The state also now requires development projects in flood zones to be able to withstand sea-level rise for the life of the buildings.”</p>
<p>[Sea</a> level rising 3-4 times faster along East Coast than globally, government report finds - The Boston Globe](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/06/25/sea_level_rising_3_4_times_faster_along_east_coast_than_globally_government_report_finds/]Sea”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/06/25/sea_level_rising_3_4_times_faster_along_east_coast_than_globally_government_report_finds/)</p>
<p>The objective data says that the sea level is rising slowly in the Boston area. The responsible response is to beef up codes for buildings, sewer, power, gas, etc. and have plans in place for flooding problems in the future.</p>
<p>They may be public but many make it hard for the public to gain access.</p>
<p>Interesting article:
[With</a> can-do stance on marathon, mayor misreads NYC - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/stance-marathon-mayor-misreads-nyc-070257392--spt.html]With”>http://news.yahoo.com/stance-marathon-mayor-misreads-nyc-070257392--spt.html)</p>
<p>One way to control growth would be for the government to get out of the flood insurance business. Do most people who live on Staten Island have flood insurance?</p>
<p>Where should we donate to give towards specific relief?</p>