After the collapse of an unoccupied beach house on Friday evening, Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge are urging visitors to stay away from the beaches and refrain from entering the water in the Rodanthe area.
Access to public areas from the northern boundary of Rodanthe to the northern end of the Jug Handle Bridge has been closed. Several other homes in Rodanthe have also suffered damage, and hazardous debris is expected to be present on the beach and in the water for over twelve miles.
Current ocean conditions are rapidly moving debris northward, but shifts in wave swell and winds could also pose risks to safety in the nearby villages of Waves and Salvo in the coming days.
The Seashore is currently in contact with the property owner regarding the debris. The owner has not yet hired a debris removal contractor. If no action is taken, National Park Service staff may conduct debris removal operations. Significant cleanup efforts are not anticipated until the rough sea conditions ease early next week.
The recent collapse at 23214 Corbina Drive marks the seventh house to collapse on Seashore beaches in the last four years, although there have been no reported injuries linked to these incidents. For more information on the threatened oceanfront structures bordering the Seashore, visit the National Park Service website.