It carries new sand to the area, which helps prevent it from eroding
(NEWSER) - It's counterintuitive, but it's true, says a Duke University geology professor. Hurricane Irene "is just what" the Outer Banks need. In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times , Orrin Pilkey acknowledges the many, many downsides of the storm: "We are going to see an awful lot of buildings destroyed and an awful lot of buildings damaged." Wildlife will drown. Salt carried by the waves will kill vegetation. And yet, this kind of storm is what allows these islands to survive. More»
