(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Plymouth, Mass.) - Whenever a storm comes up the coast, erosion is a threat. People in Plymouth, Massachusetts are hoping Hurricane Earl does not take away too much of the coastline.
The experts say erosion is about a foot a year as an average, but with this type of storm, there is potential to make this a year with a lot more than that.
"Sometimes the tide comes all the way to the bluff, when there's a really bad storm and that's what those seawalls are protecting," said Jessica Bosari, of Plymouth, MA.
The view from her house couldn't be any sweeter - that is until a storm comes barreling in.
"We've dealt with issues (on this street before) where it caves and you can see it, the whole yard went down like this," she said.
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The cliffs in South Plymouth, Massachusetts, a breathtaking view and an eroding reality.
The waters are calm for now, with kids enjoying a beach day, two days ahead of Earl's expected landfall.
Even though this coastline does not face south, cliff erosion here is a major concern.
"I'm worried because there's two more hurricanes right behind it, and I've seen a ton of erosion in say the last 25 years, along this particular area of Nameloc," said Buster Main, who is a lifelong Plymouth resident, is on the zoning board and lives 156 feet above water's edge in Nameloc Heights - but his home is across the street.
Still, he's worried that hurricane force winds could topple houses on the bluffs.
This one, part of a legal battle now, was moved 7 years ago after its porch went crashing down.
"Only a couple of residents that live right on the cliff that have been here long enough to understand, to have seen, to have some history," Main said.
And if there is significant erosion, it will take it's toll on this vegetation and these gabion baskets which look like rock filled lobster traps, meant to stop the surf from wearing the sand away.
"If they have to come in and get an emergency permit, we're here to help them protect their property," said Liz Sullivan, town Conservation planner.
"We don't worry about it, there are storms here all the time and if we worried about every storm that came by we'd be nervous nellies all the time," Bosari added.
The waves are not the greatest concern, here it's wind - and significant rain that hits this coast on an angle, causing the sand to slide.
