Ike Underscores Foolishness of Building on Barrier Islands

As Hurricane Ike pummels the Texas coast, the only thing standing in the way is a thin stretch of land called Galveston.

Galveston is a barrier island, a narrow landmass made mostly of sand that extends along a coastline parallel to the land. These islands, common along the Gulf Coast and East Coast of the United States, are some of the most fragile and changing landforms on Earth. And they are particularly vulnerable to storms.