The ultimate goal is to provide in 5 years a sound scientific basis for the management of the barrier islands here and also around the United States.

These barrier islands and barrier islands around the US are extraordinarily important. They do protect the mainland coast form the higher wave energies. They are also important in protecting bio diversity. They are important refuges for plants and animals.

Common sense tells you that the more frequent these storms are the worse off we are all going to be and certainly the worse off the barrier islands are going to be. These islands had quite a long time to recover after Hurricane Camille. Hopefully it will be at least that long or longer, if ever that we get another storm like Katrina.