Washouts happen

In reference to the closure of Beavertail Road last week due to the storm and, with all due respect to Dr. Robin "Shades of New Orleans," in the Nov. 2 edition of the Press), this is not a new thing. As far back as 1938, it is well documented that this road occasionally washes out. It is or should be a known fact to anyone familiar with Beavertail.

When I moved here in 1992 and began house hunting, I was aware of it and for that reason made the choice not to buy a house on Beavertail. Is it not our responsibility to know what 'issues ' go along with our decisions? At what point is it up to us to be responsible or at least aware? This is Mother Nature at work and I, for one, would like to see less interference by the human race. Remember the old butter commercial that said something like 'don't mess with Mother Nature? ' Yet we continue to think we can build something bigger or better to 'fix ' our problem. First of all it is only a temporary problem and happens very occasionally. I can remember this being the third time since I've lived here. That is hardly a catastrophe.

Actually, as I look at the beach this morning, it looks like the grasses held up reasonably well. I know the buffer I put in along my property several years ago held beautifully, and other than a minimal amount of rearrangement of boulders and the addition of someone's dock debris and Zodiac, all is in good shape.

This storm reinforced my resolve that, in a hurricane, I'll be prudent and leave.

Sydney Waller,

Jamestown