@c4bbc8e1 @3967703f My impression is that people with local knowledge across multiple generations, especially indigenous peoples, usually considered building on barrier islands to be temporary or disposable. It’s people bringing money from outside who have made large investments on barrier islands,  intending construction to be permanent.  The same is likely within likely storm surge heights behind the islands, say 15-20 feet above sea level. 

 @3967703f What scares me about the region where we live in Virginia is how little water the clay soils absorb. I’ve joked with a friend who works in managing construction sediment that paving the land might increase water absorption here. 

 @f884fa2b The view that the US military is just another government program to eviscerate is now mainstream among Republicans.