NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — Narragansett is home to several of Rhode Island's most picturesque beaches, but residents say a series of winter storms left their coastal homes severely damaged.

Tony Victoria, who owns a summer home on Sand Hill Cove Road between Salty Brine and Roger Wheeler state beaches, told 12 News storms in December and January inflicted "probably double the damage" of Hurricane Sandy.

The deck that leads from his home down to the beach is practically hanging off the side of a small cliff after storm surges washed away the sand where he had originally planted its supports.

"Never in my life have I seen it this bad," agreed Narragansett Building Inspector Wayne Pimental.

Pimental blames the coastal erosion on a compromised rock wall in the ocean, one of three constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect Galilee, the region of Narragansett that contains Salty Brine and Roger Wheeler state beaches, from storm surges.

"You can see the gaps," Pimental pointed out. "The water flows freely through [during high tide] so the waves come on shore and cause this major damage that we're seeing now."

In a statement to 12 News, the Army Corps of Engineers said, "We are currently evaluating data from surveys that we conducted after the storms to assess any damage to determine whether or not repairs are necessary, and if so, what may be the extent of any necessary repairs on the breakwaters."

Meanwhile, homeowners like Victoria are stuck jumping through all the necessary permitting hoops before they can even start rebuilding their properties.

Victoria finally has permission from the Coastal Resources Management Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the town to begin work on his summer home, but mourns the fact that nothing will be ready in time for him to use the house this year.

"This year is a wash," he told 12 News.