The North Carolina Shore and Its Barrier Islands: Restless Ribbons of Sand

by Orrin H. Pilkey, William J. Neal, Stanley R. Riggs, Craig A. Webb, David M. Bush

Overview

The North Carolina Shore and Its Barrier Islands is the latest volume in the series, Living with the Shore. Replacing an earlier volume, this thoroughly new book provides a diverse guide to one of America’s most popular shorelines. As is true for all books in the series, it is based on the premise that understanding the changing nature of beaches and barrier islands is essential if we are to preserve them for future generations.
Evidence that the North Carolina shore is changing is never hard to find, but recently the devastation wrought by Hurricane Fran and the perilous situation of the historic lighthouse at Cape Hatteras have reminded all concerned of the fragility of this coast. Arguing for a policy of intelligent development, one in which residential and commercial structures meet rather than confront the changing nature of the shore, the authors have included practical information on hazards of many kinds—storms, tides, floods, erosion, island migration, and earthquakes. Diagrams and photographs clearly illustrate coastal processes and aid in understanding the impact of hurricanes and northeasters, wave and current dynamics, as well as pollution and other environmental destruction due to overdevelopment. A chapter on estuaries provides related information on the shores of back barrier areas that are growing in popularity for recreational residences. Risk maps focus on the natural hazards of each island and together with construction guidelines provide a basis for informed island management. Lastly, the dynamics of coastal politics and management are reviewed through an analysis of the controversies over the decision to move the Cape Hatteras lighthouse and a proposed effort to stabilize Oregon Inlet.
From the natural and historic perspective of the opening chapters to the regional discussions of individual barrier islands, this book is both a primer on coastal processes for the first time visitor as well as a guide to hazard identification for property owners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822322245
Publisher:	Duke University Press Books
Publication date:	10/13/1998
Series:	Living with the Shore
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Orrin H. Pilkey Jr. is James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at Duke University.

William J. Neal is Professor of Geology at Grand Valley State University.

Stanley R. Riggs is Professor of Marine Geology at East Carolina University.

Craig A. Webb is a research assistant in the Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences at Duke University.

David M. Bush is Associate Professor of Geology at State University of West Georgia.

Deborah F. Pilkey is a graduate student in the Department of Engineering Sciences and Mechanics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Tables, and Risk Maps xi

Preface xvii

Preface to the Previous Editions xxi

1. Lessons from the Lighthouse 1

2. Storms! 19

3. Barrier Islands: Fast-Moving Property 39

4. North Carolina Estuaries 61

5. Shoreline Engineering: Stabilizing the Unstable 87

6. Assessing Risk Levels for Your Island, Neighborhood, and Site 109

7. Ranking the Risks of Your Island 133

8. The Law and the Shore 203

9. Building, Retrofitting, and Buying a House Near the Beach 213

10. Earthquake Potential and Damage Mitigation 259

Appendixes

A. Hazard Safety Checklists 273

B. Guide to Federal, State, and Local Agencies Involved in Coastal Development 282

C. 101 Useful References 298

Index 311

Editorial Reviews

The book sounds a wake-up call for a far larger audience than the informed environmentalists who have long argued for a policy of intelligent development along this nation's fragile coasts. This call is one that should be heeded by all North Carolinians.

Sanford Herald

Some 20 years ago several of these authors wrote a book on North Carolina coast hazards and ways to reduce vulnerability (followed by 20 books for other coastal regions). This book represents an update to include the effects of recent storms on the coastline, the improved understanding of barrier island dynamics, and also newer building protection procedures.
Graphic descriptions of storm damage are shown, followed by a mile-by-mile status of the barrier islands with detailed risk assessment. The book concludes with protection procedures. This book is for the most part nontechnical and will appeal to those interested in the hazards of coastal living.

Bulletin of the American Meterological Society

In The North Carolina Shore and its Barrier Islands, the authors argue for a policy of intelligent development-one in which residential and commercial structures adapt to, rather than confront, the changing nature of the shore. They include practical information on the numerous hazards of the region. . . use diagrams and photographs to clearly illustrate coastal processes and the effects of hurricanes and northeasters, [and] provide risk maps. . . . Finally, they review the dynamics of coastal politics and management through an analysis of the controversies over the decision to move the Cape Hatteras lighthouse and a proposed effort to stabilize Oregon Inlet.

Natural Hazards Observer