SURFSIDE BEACH – Ongoing concerns over erosion in the beachfront town of Surfside Beach intensified this week after the eleventh home in fourteen months was swallowed by the Gulf of Mexico.
“In [1973] you could park three semis going out to the water front-to-back not side-to-side,” said Pat Benson, a long-time resident.
Benson said she wasn’t surprised that 14 months after Hurricane Ike came ashore another home on Beach Road had been claimed by the Gulf.
“I’m 72 years old and I would hope that something is done so that I can have (my) home until I die,” she said.
On-going erosion – and Hurricane Ida’s recent tidal surge – weakened the home’s pilings. What’s left was littered over several blocks on Beach Road.
Residents say erosion has always been a problem, but not like this. They say visitors could walk on the same stretch of beach three months ago. Now, they say, waves lap at the road.
“The amount of sand (lost) at the beach over the last five years has been incredible,” said Mayor Larry Davison.
Plans to bring more sand to the beach were put on hold, in part because the owner of the home that collapsed sued the state, to keep the house standing.
Now, residents worry the Gulf may have undermined Beach Road and put the road in danger.
“That’s a possibility, that the water went through the revetment and did that because the waves were hitting it for so long,” said Davison.
The Texas General Land Office said the problem was an emergency and was searching for a temporary fix.
Long-time resident Benson said she wanted something done fast – before her home and others – ended up in the Gulf.
“We’ve lost a tremendous amount (of beach),” said Benson. “And just in the last month we’ve lost two (feet).”
