The worst storm our area has seen since Sandy in 2012 left its mark on the Delaware coast from —but it also gave us a powerful reminder of just how important our dunes are in protecting the communities we call home.
For days, winds, high tides and pounding surf pushed water into low-lying areas throughout our beach towns. Significant flooding, particularly on the bayside, covered roads and properties, while the oceanfront endured powerful waves and storm surge.
Despite the intensity and duration of the storm, our dune system did exactly what it was designed to do. While many areas experienced substantial erosion and the coastline may look a little different today, the dunes absorbed the brunt of the ocean’s force and provided a critical line of defense for the homes, businesses and communities behind them.
Cleanup is underway throughout our coastal communities. Roads are open, water is draining, sand is being cleared, and residents, businesses and local crews are putting us back together.
Living at the beach means having tremendous respect for the ocean—both for its beauty and its incredible power. On a calm summer morning, it can be easy to take the dunes lining our beaches for granted. After a storm like this, their importance is impossible to miss. They aren’t simply part of the landscape. They are an essential protective barrier, built and maintained over time to help absorb storm energy, reduce flooding and protecting everything that lies behind them.
A powerful reminder that protecting our dunes means protecting the coastline—and the communities—we are so fortunate to call home.
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