Homes are Collapsing into the Ocean in Florida
Note: This article was originally posted on CNN.com.
By Rachel Ramirez, CNN
Fri November 11, 2022
(CNN) — Homes and buildings are collapsing into the ocean and authorities have issued warnings to evacuate some areas as Tropical Storm Nicole pushes a huge volume of ocean water onshore in southeast Florida. Video from Volusia County shows homes crumbling, reduced to wreckage, as Nicole’s waves erode the coastline. Separate video shows the county’s beach safety office collapsing into the rising water. “Right now, ground zero is here,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told CNN affiliate WESH-TV on Wednesday as Nicole came ashore as a category 1 hurricane.
Three main factors are contributing to the dangerous situation on the coast. Nicole’s storm surge, which peaked at around 6 feet Thursday morning, is significant because of how massive the storm was as it approached Florida on Wednesday, with tropical storm-force winds stretching for more than 500 miles. That storm surge pushed ashore on top of exceptionally high tides associated with this week’s full moon. And behind it all, sea level in this part of Florida has risen more than a foot in the past 100 years, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and most of that rise has occurred in the past three decades.
Scientists and researchers have long warned that sea level rise is leading to more erosion and high-tide flooding — particularly during extreme coastal storms. This is putting even more stress on sea walls, which are meant to protect coastal communities from high waves and water levels. “We do gradually put more stress on [sea walls] with sea level rise,” Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, told CNN. “More and more of them are gradually, completely submerged in saltwater, which concrete does not like.”
McNoldy also noted that these walls are aging, and the back-to-back nature of storms is making seawalls more vulnerable. It was only six weeks ago that Hurricane Ian’s storm surge eroded parts of Florida’s eastern coast. “It doesn’t really take a strong storm – you just need high tides or storm-agitated tides to wash away or put extra stress on the walls,” he said. “Having these two storms six weeks apart, if you don’t give places any time to repair or replenish, each storm definitely leaves its mark.”
“Often 20 feet tall or higher, these concrete behemoths are constructed to withstand the sustained assault of incoming waves and storm surges. Seawalls currently line 14 percent, or nearly 15,000 miles, of the United States coastline—a number that’s expected to grow in the coming decades as the sea level rises.”
Humans have relied on waterfront protection barrier systems for a very long time. The oldest known seawall is at the edge of a 7,000-year-old village on the coast of Israel. This seawall was approximately 330 feet long and built in a dog-leg pattern with boulders transported from a nearby river. Although seawall engineering has advanced with time, protective waterfront structures have followed the same basic forms for centuries.
Our international population is rapidly approaching 8 billion people. According to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, “almost 40 percent of the population lives in relatively high-population-density coastal areas, where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms. Globally, eight of the world’s 10 largest cities are near a coast, according to the U.N. Atlas of the Oceans.” 
Representatives from 
In most cases, seawall repair is NOT a DIY project. It’s important to find a qualified seawall repair specialist instead of a general contractor. In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of Seawall Repair Network® 
Corrosion, tides, boat wakes, tropical storms, and hurricanes can all contribute to seawall damage and, ultimately, failure. Additional causes undermine the structure on the landward side. Rainfall creates more hydrostatic pressure than rising and falling tides. Every time it rains or the irrigation system runs (and every time the tide goes out) all of the groundwater above the waterline needs a place to go. Massive pressure can build up if that water is trapped on the landward side, putting immense stress on the structure. (Read more in the article, 
Mother nature’s oceans, lakes, and rivers can be so beautiful and calm but over time her natural forces will cause damage and eventual failure to seawalls and bulkheads. These complicated structures are made up of a variety of essential components. If one component fails, the entire structure is at risk. In traditionally constructed seawalls, weep holes with a geotextile fabric filter allow water to flow from the landward side back into the ocean to prevent pressure buildup.
Every year, storms cause damage to countless waterfront barriers. When properly maintained, seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments provide critical protection to valuable lakeside and oceanfront property. There are many types of storms that can damage waterfront barriers.
Seawall Repair Network is proud to donate a portion of all proceeds to the Volunteer Florida Foundation’s Hurricane Ian relief efforts through the end of 2023. Join us in supporting our neighbors in Florida, who were affected by Hurricane Ian.