The Outer Banks is a paradise for residents and tourists alike. The string of islands, laid end to end just off the coast of North Carolina and a portion of Virginia, are beloved for their stunning beaches, picturesque towns, and pleasant weather. Many resident families have been there for generations, and visitors often return season after season to take advantage of the sun and the scenery.
But the Outer Banks, like many coastal communities in the United States and around the world, is up against a dire challenge. As global temperatures continue to heat up, causing an ever-lengthening list of consequences such as sea-level rise, drought, and intense storms, the very existence of the islands may be in jeopardy.
The Outer Banks could be devastated in the next 50-100 years as rising sea levels threaten to sweep away the 200-mile-long string of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast.
A 2010 North Carolina report warned that local sea levels could rise as much as 55 inches by the end of the century if no major actions are taken to curtail climate change.
Source: North Carolina Sea-Level Rise Assessment Report (2010)
Even the base line scenario for rising sea levels would flood beachfront roads and homes and devastate the tourism and real estate industries. Here, a beachfront home on the eroded shoreline tilts on its supports.
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