Interesting that you brought this system up. Way back in 1914, one of the clubs at Fishers Island had its clubhouse built right over South Beach. The March '14 nor'easter washed it completely away and the club's officers prudently decided to rebuild it well away from the water (although the '38 hurricane did a number on that structure as well). Anyway, every so often to this day, the old clubhouse stone footers get exposed after a big storm.