The most important concern about population growth relating to risk is the increased number of people who are at risk. These are parts of an island's evolution. An island or coastal area that is covered with houses and that has just suffered a storm is disastrous to see. However, more than just people are involved. As population increases, there is pressure to create more navigation channels and to deepen existing channels.
Navigation channels cause the shoreline to retreat.
They cause the loss of sand supply on either side of the channel, creating more problems for buildings along the shoreline. We find more dune gaps that lead to the sea so that people can have more access to it. However, during a storm, dune gaps act like access ways to the island for storm waves and increase the danger to the population and to property. In addition, roads act as overwash passes, and with increased population, there are naturally more roads. Maritime forests are very protective of buildings that are tucked within them, but unfortunately, development involves removal of the forest.