HURRICANE FRAN: EFFECTS ON COMMUNITIES WITH AND WITHOUT SHORE PROTECTION

The southeastern coastal section of North Carolina was impacted by two powerful hurricanes in the summer of 1996, Hurricane Bertha (a category 2 storm) on 12-13 July and Hurricane Fran (a category 3 storm) on 5-6 September. These storms hit areas protected by Corps shore protection projects (Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach) and areas not protected by Corps shore protection projects (Kure Beach and Topsail Island). The contrast in the level of damage sustained by ocean front development in the protected and unprotected areas prompted the Corps of Engineers to undertake a study to determine the value of the Corps shore protection projects.

A team of Corps and non-Corps engineers and scientists was formed to study the differences in storm characteristics that affected the various communities and to evaluate the geology of the region to see if geologic factors play a significant role in the level of damage. Storm parameters considered included winds, storm surge, waves, and high water marks. The geologic assessment was accomplished by using existing seismic, sidescan, vibracore, and surface sediment databases for the offshore areas combined with shoreface data. Finally, an assessment was made of the economic impact of the storms on each of the communities affected by the storms.

The major findings from the study were:

- While some differences in storm parameters were observed from Kure Beach to North Topsail Beach, the differences were not large enough to explain the difference in damage.

- The differences in the geologic setting from Kure Beach to North Topsail did influence the level of damage, particularly at Kure Beach where a coquina rock outcrop apparently influenced the highwater marks observed in this area (water marks in Kure Beach were the highest in the study area).

- The areas with existing wide beaches and frontal dunes, either natural or man-made, experienced less storm damage.

- The areas protected by Corps of Engineers shore protection projects received less damage as a percent of total property value than did the unprotected areas.