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WILMINGTON – A report by the Environmental Protection Agency shows North Carolina is among the states that could be hurt the most by rising sea levels.

The report said it's a result of global warming.

The study shows if the sea level rises three feet this century, some barrier islands, like the outer banks, could break apart.

"The Outer Banks is the most vulnerable as you are already seeing more and more frequently is that you are losing houses to the ocean. Where if you were to go up there you could see the water going underneath the pylon and these houses eventually fall into the sea," Doug Gamble, a UNC Wilmington professor of geography, said.

Gamble said the rise in sea level comes from increased temperatures, which cause the water to expand and ice sheets to melt, which all adds to the volume of water.

Gamble also pointed out that sea level increase isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it could create problems with development.

"Everybody is moving toward the coast and everyone wants to be closer to the water. So if sea level is rising in this direction and your pushing development this direction more or less they are going to meet," Gamble said.

Residents said they have accepted that sea level is rising, but they don't want to see beachfront property washed away.

"People have invested their life savings into these houses along the coast over here. It is going to be passed down from generation to generation," Julia Connell of Wilmington said.

"The beach is the main income for North Carolina, for our area. If that gets washed away, the tourist industry will definitely decline," Alex Greene of Wilmington said.

According to Gamble there are two ways people can cope with the rising sea levels. The first is to adapt to future changes, and the second is to try and reduce your carbon footprint.

North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are the largest land areas being threatened by sea level rise according to the report.