Ahh, you’re still thinking if that as 6%. Hatteras NC is 50 miles long generally less than a mile wide and the absolutely highest point is 56’ above sea level. More topically for these islands Nags Head, North Carolina averages 3’ above sea level at high tide. People build everything on stilts and It’s simply accepted that it’s all temporary at some level.

As the barrier islands essentially make up the only beach front property across half of North Carolina, that’s the only real option for vacation homes like this. That and fishing support a relatively small population, but the total investment on these islands adds into the billions.

In that context 2’ means far more than a 6% difference. Little there can withstand a cat 4+ hurricane even without the ocean, however slowly loosing inches is already making a difference.