A group of wealthy US homeowners spent $565,000 (£441,000) to build protective dunes near their properties – only to have the barriers wash away in days.
The group in Salisbury, Massachusetts, trucked in about 14,000 tonnes of sand which it said would protect as many as 15 homes before being washed away.
Residents now hope the state will help fund a more permanent solution to safeguard their seaside homes.
About 9,000 people live in Salisbury, near the New Hampshire border.
In a Facebook post, Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change said $565,000 was collected from property owners, resulting in the placement of the sand.
Just days later, when a single large storm hit, much of the barrier washed away. In a separate post, the group said the dunes had prevented some houses from being “eaten up”.
“The sacrificial dunes did their job,” the group said. “The shock was it happened three days after the project was finished.”
Salisbury resident Joe Rossitto was quoted by a local NBC affiliate as saying that local homeowners are “spitting into the wind”.
The group now hopes the state of Massachusetts – which regulates the beach – will help find a long-term solution to the issue.
“Our feeling is if you regulate something, you have to be accountable and maintain it,” the group wrote. “The residents that repaired the dune in front of their property helped both the city and the state. Now it’s their turn to step up to the plate.”
The homeowners’ group now places to establish snow fencing and plant dune grass, which could help prevent sand from blowing away in the future. The project is expected to cost at least $1.5m, although at the moment it is unclear where the money will come from.
“Sacrificial sand buys time, but it does not buy permanence,” Republican Massachusetts Senator Bruce Tarr told NBC. “This has been a very difficult year, we haven’t been able to stay ahead of it, but we need to continue to work together and use the tools that are available.”
The group, however, has faced criticism for the project.
“Throw down all the sand you want,” one man commented on Facebook. “Mother nature decides how long it will protect your homes.”
The BBC has contacted Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change for comment.
According to a report released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) last year, about one in four Americans live in coastal areas that are “highly vulnerable to natural disasters”.
