As hurricane seasons come and go, the ongoing occurrence of devastation along the US coastline grows increasingly severe. According to the American Planning Association's (APA) Executive Director Frank So, the financial impact of natural disasters has never been as staggering as it is today. Development along coastlines is rising and bringing with it more potential for danger when Mother Nature presents herself. Every new severe storm that plows over the shoreline creates more damage to the beach's natural state and its man-made developments. Not only is the disaster of coastal development highly expensive for the community to recover from, but it is dangerous to the condition of coastlines. What can be done in order to protect against destruction of the natural land and beachside housing and businesses? Is it enough to set restrictions and guidelines on building or should coastal development be brought to a cease in order to preserve the integrity of the coast?.
In October, 1995, Hurricane Opal's storm surge and waves brought to an unprepared Florida more structure demolition than in all other coastal storms combined over the preceding years in the state (10 Steps, 1999). With the passing of the storm, full-fledged recovery was needed in order to restore the Panhandle. New lessons were learned and procedures had to be created in order to mitigate future damage at the presence of another storm. Some alterations in future developments that need to be accomplished include building above grade, setting back buildings and homes a certain distance away from the surf zone, dune preservation, and modifications in seawall construction. Above grade building and setback can be preventative tactics against first floor flooding and structural damage. For example, building on pilings allows water to flow under the structure, creating less resistance and pressure against the structure.
