WRPI — DEM: Coastal homes, businesses at risk for future storm damage

South County

January 17, 2024

By Cate McNeil, Paige Messer — Narragansett, RI (WPRI) — While the focus seemed to be on inland flooding over the past few weeks of weather, all eyes are now on Rhode Island’s coast, which experts say may not have enough protection to weather future storms.

Areas like Sand Hill Cove, once protected by natural sand and dune barriers, are vulnerable after recent weather wore those barriers down.

“Both those types of areas can take some of the violence that you’re seeing from the wave action and from the storm surge, and sort of spread it out and mitigate it, and minimize the damage,” said Terrence Gray, director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. “When you don’t have that buffer or dune structure, the houses and businesses that are right on the front lines do get hammered.”

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