Before the Burchardi flood in 1634 there were three houses on the island, one of which was inhabited by the beach lookout ("Strandvogt"). He was also the caretaker of the beacon, which was destroyed during the storm surge of 1634. In this storm tide, two houses were destroyed and ten people were drowned. In the February flood of 1825 the last remaining house was destroyed. It was rebuilt, however, and served again as the residence of the lookout. Today the "Hallig" has an area of and is currently farmed organically by a husband and wife.