Question about erosion, nourishment and retreat

Mr Oakes---We are property owners in South Nags Head and have been for 30 years . We love NH and have supported the local economy by always making sure to use vendors and tradespeople who live in the NH are. We rent the propery 23-26 weeks a years that brings approx. 200 family members to NH who help aupport the local economy. We spend 3-4 weeks in NH ourselves.

I was surprise to read on your Bob Oakes for Mayor website your quote regarding the beaches and the future a "Plan for possible retreat, especially in South Nags Head". I would appreciate your expanding on what you mean by "retreat". This sounds rather ominous and to a propery owner this means we have to begin making decsions for our future in Nags Head --

Thanks for you reply -

-

Thanks for your obvious devotion to Nags Head. I appreciate your concerns in regards to retreat in South Nags Head. Unfortunately, we have already been retreating in South Nags Head as a default policy. While we've made every effort to implement a beach nourishment program, first a federal plan, then a local plan, the erosion does not wait. Without nourishment, our choices dwindle to hardening the shoreline, or retreat. Hardening the shoreline takes away the public beach, and is the least desirable alternative.
Even in a nourishment program, South Nags Head demands three times the amount of sand because of the higher erosion rate. A terminal groin at the south end of town could change this pattern, but it could also cause unforeseen consequences that we should examine closely.
My point is that we have been forced to retreat somewhat haphazardly, and we should plan for a more consistent policy on sandbags and homes on our public beach. Planning should enable us to anticipate and mitigate the many issues involved in a forced retreat from the ocean. This can be done at the same time we reach for nourishment. Thanks for your question, and your investment in Nags Head.