In a troubling development for North Carolina’s Outer Banks, six homes have fallen victim to the relentless Atlantic surf, marking a growing trend of coastal erosion that has plagued the region in recent years. The series of collapses began on Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, located on Hatteras Island, where five unoccupied houses were claimed by the ocean. Three of these homes were situated along Cottage Avenue, while two others were located on Tower Circle Road. These incidents occurred within a short span from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., fortunately without any reported injuries. Later that same day, a sixth house on Tower Circle Road also succumbed to the waves, as confirmed by local media and the Hatteras Island Community Emergency Response Team.
The precarious ocean conditions persisted into Wednesday, prompting officials to warn of localized flooding in the area. The National Park Service advised visitors to avoid the sites of these destroyed homes and to proceed with caution for several miles south where hazardous debris is present both on the beach and in the surf.
The ongoing situation has been exacerbated by the impact of Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda, which have generated particularly severe ocean swells. As wave heights exceeded 15 feet offshore, these long-period swells, characterized by wave crests arriving every 15 seconds, brought heightened energy that contributed to increased coastal flooding risks, beach erosion, and potential property damage throughout the Outer Banks through the week’s end. Dare County has cautioned residents to be prepared for ongoing coastal flooding, especially along N.C. Highway 12 in Hatteras Island, which may become impassable at times, particularly during high tide.
This recent incident follows closely after another empty home in Buxton crumbled into the sea just two weeks earlier. Over the past five years, the Buxton and Rodanthe areas have seen 18 homes collapse, with many more teetering on the edge due to some of the fastest erosion rates and sea-level rise on the East Coast.
Rob Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University, highlighted the regularity of such occurrences and advocated for proactive measures to relocate people and assets away from coastal hazards as sea levels rise and storms become more severe. He pointed out that uncontrolled retreat from the oceanfront is becoming the norm, creating not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard, with deteriorating septic systems posing public health threats.
Despite local and federal officials grappling with this dire issue, effective solutions remain elusive. In a notable move, the Park Service purchased and demolished two homes on East Beacon Road in Rodanthe in 2023 to prevent future collapses, converting the area into public beach access. However, scaling this approach is challenging due to inadequate funds and the political reluctance to support large-scale retreat from vulnerable shorelines. Homeowners are left facing difficult choices—either surrendering their properties to the sea or investing significant amounts to protect them.
This situation is a stark reminder that the impacts of climate change and coastal erosion are not isolated to North Carolina but are reflections of broader challenges faced by coastal communities across the nation. The urgency of addressing these problems is clear as homeowners and officials alike seek answers to safeguard their future against nature’s increasing fury.