GALVESTON, Texas — In Galveston, the near miss of Hurricane Francine brought in high tides and storm surge.
It left some popular beaches practically empty -- leaving only some thankful for the waves created by Mother Nature.
As the waves crashed near the seawall, some were thrilled about the surf the storm brought while others were concerned about the long-term effects on the island.
The red flag warning didn't stop surfers on Wednesday.
"It's really great fun today," Mathew Peyton said.
He said Wednesday's waves were ideal.
"When the hurricane stays 150 miles offshore, it sends us the energy and doesn't affect our community. That's the best kind of surf," he said.
For Timothy Dellapena, the conditions raised concerns.
"That's where the erosion is the worst -- on the West End," Dellapena said.
Dellapena is a coastal marine biologist with Texas A&M and has studied erosion for nearly 25 years.
"The east end of the seawall, historically, for the last 100 years, has seen about three times the relative sea level rise, change," Dellapena said.
He said even near-miss storms like Francine leave long-term effects.
"Things have changed a lot through the years," Galveston Island Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said.
Davis has worked on the island for more than 40 years. He said there have been several projects that have helped the island stand strong in the face of natural disasters.
"The community has done such a good job of these beach nourishment projects," Davis said.
Beach restoration projects have been essential, Dellapena said, and due to the recent storms, another one will be needed soon.