The outer banks are beautiful, but the earth is what it is. I lived on the Oregon coast for a while and people tried to save their beautiful beach houses by hauling giant boulders in...they try this idiocy in Malibu, also. The ocean is a force of nature and will do as it does and has always done. Man can be a silly creature.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
Matthew 7:26
Water always wins (more or less) - Dr. Who from a few seasons ago.