Washout: Our Vanishing Beaches

Last winter’s severe storms took a heavy toll on Rhode Island beaches. The damage is another warning sign of the climate-related shoreline challenges facing the region. In this continuing series, The Public’s Radio reports on the damage’s impact

1 min read
Share
Washout: Our Vanishing Beaches
Copy

Last winter’s severe storms took a heavy toll on Rhode Island’s beaches. The damage is another warning sign of the climate-related shoreline challenges facing the region. In this continuing series, The Public’s Radio reports on the damage’s impact.

The summer beach season is here, but the beaches themselves look very different this year. Coastal communities are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair shoreline damage from last winter’s severe storms. The damage is a warning sign to Rhode Island of the tough road ahead as climate-related sea levels rise and increasingly heavy storms continue to swallow up the beaches.

by Alex Nunes

Kathie Florsheim wants you to understand just what’s happening to our eroding coastline. She’s not a scientist. She’s a fine art photographer who has been photographing beaches in the region for about 50 years.

by Alex Nunes

As structures like the carousel and snack bar building are being demolished at Easton’s Beach, city officials are grappling with how to save an eroding beach.

by Olivia Ebertz

Beach erosion and extreme flooding are forcing South Coast officials to think more urgently about how to adapt to a rise in sea levels. New Bedford Light reporter Adam Goldstein joins Morning Edition host Luis Hernandez to discuss the many options under consideration.

by Luis Hernandez

These stories were reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read more stories here.

Consumers will have to wait until 2027 to see the results of the administration’s negotiations
Cranston Street Armory lands seven-month lease as production hub for untitled thriller; collaboration with Nicholas Sparks expected to create thousands of local jobs
Dropouts come days before meeting on SouthCoast Wind cable review
Decision to come on oil and gas company’s push to toss 2018 complaint
At a senior center in Providence, Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Seth Magaziner blast Trump-era cuts to Social Security staffing and services, urging Americans to “take them at their word” and push back before it’s too late
For 57 years as a player, coach and administrator, he made an enormous impact on Brown and college rugby