To the editor:

The destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian in Florida is reminiscent of that along the shore of Bristol Harbor from past hurricanes, which demonstrate the vulnerability of Robin Rug. These past storms have destroyed the Lobster Pot, the Herreshoff boat houses, the stone warehouse where the DeWolf Tavern now resides, and the Hope Diner among others, while damaging many structures and piling debris along Thames and lower Hope Streets. Robin Rug lies in the midst of this zone of destruction.

The Bristol Flood Zone Information site displays many photographs of the damage. The water surges have reached 11 feet nine inches, 13 feet nine inches, and over 12 feet above mean high water in Providence for the 1815, 1938, and 1954 hurricanes, respectively. Elsewhere in the bay it has reached 14 feet, which is what FEMA rated the Robin Rug site eight years ago. The surge is now listed as 15 feet for Bristol according to a recent URI and Coastal Resource Management Council study and the sea level continues to rise.

Such a surge is expected in a 100-year flood, which may occur at any time, and poses serious problems for Robin Rug. The bay end of Constitution Street, which is near the top of the down-ramp into the first floor of Robin Rug, is only about four feet above the tide. The storm surge should flood all the first floor and most of the second of the building, not including wave action. The debris field along Thames Street would be expected to break the lower windows to speed the flooding as might be the fate of any other windows below 15-16 feet elevation. The building is thus placed in a Special Flood Hazard Area in FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Development in Areas of Special Flood Hazard is covered by the Bristol Zoning Ordinance Chapter 28 Section 301 whose purpose “…is to ensure public safety, [and] minimize hazards to persons and property from flooding…” In doing this the town, thus, has chosen to comply with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance act of 1968.

The highly unusual spot zoning of Robin Rug should not absolve the town from this duty. Placing 125 student apartments in an area that will suffer from serious hurricane damage does not appear compatible with that mandate and the Robin Rug development decision needs to be revisited.

Patrick Barosh
PhD geologist
103 Aaron Ave.