Residents of Rodanthe, located in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, experienced a familiar yet troubling incident on Friday when a house near the shore collapsed into the ocean. Weather specialists attributed the collapse to powerful waves generated by Hurricane Ernesto, which was situated hundreds of miles away, in conjunction with unusually high tides. Local officials noted that the house was already at risk of falling prior to the storm.
This destruction serves as a stark reminder of the broader impact of climate change, which is intensifying storms and raising sea levels, leading to increased erosion of coastal areas. Over the past four years, Rodanthe, a small community with approximately 200 residents, has witnessed the loss of seven homes to the ocean. The house that fell on Friday was uninhabited at the time, and thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries from any of the collapses, as confirmed by the National Park Service.
Officials have cautioned that additional homes may be at risk of damage or collapse in the days ahead, due to the ongoing effects of Hurricane Ernesto as it affects the East Coast, despite not being forecasted to make landfall on the continental United States. Some nearby properties have already shown signs of damage.