Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

In Saturday’s Boston Globe there is an article about sea level rise in Boston. Mayor Menino is taking proactive steps to fortify parts of Boston. On the Vineyard, like Boston, we have had several storms this winter season where if the storm surge had occurred at high tide there would have been substantial impact. One thing that is discussed by mariners in Vineyard Haven is the ability, or not, of the jetties to protect the fleet. It is well known that if there were a large storm with a substantial storm surge which occurred at high tide that the fleet would be devastated. It is for this reason that I write this letter to begin a conversation about making the jetties higher and about fortifying Vineyard Haven against storm surge in general.

Frank Brunelle, Vineyard Haven