Opening Slates:
 
1) Hurricanes present unique
challenges to coastal areas
by disrupting and damaging beaches.
 
2) Candace Beauvais, PG explains
some steps of the coastline
recovery process from Hurricane Ike
in Galveston, Texas.

Transcript:
 
Candace Beauvais
 
After a storm, one of FEMA���s priorities is to evaluate the damage caused by the event. Damage assessment is not limited to infrastructure but also includes coastal erosion. To determine the amount of sand loss on a beach we look for indicators in the field. Examples of damage markers include demarcation lines on structures, undermining of structures as well as sand escarpments. This is a great example of a demarcation line. The paint previously went down to the pre-storm sand level which was eroded away.

Recovering from any major event, especially a hurricane is taking care of debris. When you���re this close to the beach, we have to deal with debris sand. Sand is over washed onto adjacent streets and deposited, and when the storm surge subsides, that material has to be collected for replacement on the beach. Often times they come through with bull dozers and front end loaders and just push it to the side like you would with snow.

The sand is hauled over to the beach, placed on the beach and sifted, such as what���s happening here. The purpose of the sifting is to remove any debris, torn up decking or chunks of concrete, both of which we have here, some electrical conduit as well. Once that material is removed from the sand, the sand can be used in various places on the beach. Typically it���s placed in front of structures that have sustained severe undermining and erosion.

Previously geo tubes were placed on the beach to act as a core for a dune system. Dunes are a very important part of beach morphology. They help protect the structure behind them from storm surge and severe wave action. A geo tube is nothing more than a geo-textile fabric that���s been filled with beach sand. They place them along the beach parallel to the water and deposit sand on top of them and try to get them vegetated. During Hurricane Ike these geo tubes were uncovered and subsequently destroyed. They were ripped apart because the wave action was so severe. And currently what���s going on here is they are cutting what���s left of the geo tubes apart and spreading the sand in areas where it���s needed.
Slowly over time sand will re-deposit on the beach and a natural dune system will re-form. Vegetation such as sea oats and sea grasses, they assist in capturing sand and help the dune build upward to gain some height and they also, once they���re established, hold the dune together so that storm action won���t cause as much damage to the dune. The roots kind of hold the dune together.
Ending Slates:
 
1) The process of beach recovery
after Hurricane Ike
continues in Texas.

2) For more information, visit:
www.fema.gov