Answer:
1. Yes elevation does play a factor if the house was higher i feel like it wouldnt get as damaged
2. Yes they could build a high enough wall that it would take most of the impact away from the houses, you would build it with the thickest peice of wood that you could find and use long screws and cement the wood into the ground.
3. The wall will also help from erosion
Explanation: i got it right on my project.