Effective Coastal Management
This past October, when Hurricane Ike roared out of the Gulf of Mexico and slammed the Texas coast, the nation was reminded of the damage that coastal storms can cause.
Many Americans are vulnerable to the kind of destruction that Hurricane Ike brought. More than half of our nation’s population lives on coasts that are exposed to hazards such as storms, erosion, and sea-level rise. These hazards can damage and destroy property, interrupt vital services, and cause injury and loss of life. Improper development in hazardous areas and destruction of natural protective features, such as beaches, dunes, wetlands, and barrier islands, make coastal areas even more vulnerable to hazard events.
To help our coastal managers protect life and property and plan for hazard events, NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) works with state partners through the Coastal Zone Management program. The CZM program is a voluntary partnership between the federal government and coastal states and territories. One of its roles is to help states build resilient coastal communities and minimize the loss of life and property from hazards.
Texas and CZM Work Together
The Texas Coastal Management program is a good example of how states and the CZM program work together to help make important decisions about coastal land use.
Through the CZM partnership, OCRM provides funding to help Texas protect its coastal communities and prepare for hazard events using a variety of means, including coastal monitoring programs that supply critical information on beach erosion rates, historic and projected storm surge, and natural protective features.
For example, to help managers make wise decisions about land use, the Geohazards Mapping Initiative maps hazardous areas throughout the Texas coastal zone, identifying areas that are especially vulnerable. The Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network, operated by NOAA and the state, provides historical data on water levels and shoreline conditions to help local officials prepare for coastal storms.
When Hazards Strike
The CZM program also plays a valuable role in helping states recover from hazard events. In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the CZM program has been supporting efforts in Texas by:
Coastal storms often leave debris on the beach that pose safety hazards to people.
High resolution (Credit: NOAA)
- Advising on policy updates to reduce future hazard effects. OCRM provided the Texas program with information about how other states implement shoreline setback regulations, which help reduce damage by establishing how close to the water a structure can be built.
- Providing guidance on Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs that fund the acquisition and relocation/demolition of damaged structures in hazardous areas. These programs move structures out of harm’s way and require that acquired properties remain open space. They convert hazardous areas to community assets, protect the environment, and reduce recovery costs.
- Helping to connect state coastal management and federal programs to discuss recovery from Ike at the October Southern and Caribbean Regional CZM Meeting. This meeting provided time for officials from the states, NOAA, FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and affected Texas communities to discuss recovery efforts and lessons learned from previous hurricanes.
Looking to the Future
As development along our coasts increases, so does vulnerability to coastal hazards. As demonstrated by recent hurricanes, these hazards can affect all Americans, not just those who live on the coast. To minimize damage and be ready for recovery, coastal communities must take action now to prepare for future hazard events. With help from the national CZM program, states are guiding these activities to create safer, stronger, and healthier coasts.
More information about the national and state coastal zone management programs and coastal hazards can be found online. 