Home collapses into ocean in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It's the 6th time this year.
- The collapse, caused by strong winds and high tides, led to the temporary closure of a portion of Highway 12 and the beach due to debris.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of other houses in the area, particularly those built on pilings along the beachfront.
- Coastal erosion, exacerbated by rising sea levels and powerful storms, has significantly increased the vulnerability of homes.
A North Carolina coastal storm sent a home into the ocean off the Outer Banks island of Hatteras overnight Friday, marking the sixth house collapse in the area this year.
The unoccupied home was in the village of Rodanthe in Dare County, according to the National Park Service. No injuries were reported due to the collapse.
A portion of Highway 12 temporarily closed near the collapse, as well as the beach in front of Rodanthe due hazardous debris. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which is contact with the property owner, is urging victors to stay clear of the area, as well as the ocean "for potentially many miles to the south of Rodanthe."
Severe weather has complicated cleanup efforts and officials are monitoring nearby unoccupied structures at risk.
The National Weather Service forecasted wind gusts up to 50 mph along the Outer Banks Friday morning while also warning of ocean overwash.
Three houses collapsed within one September week
Now a total of six houses have collapsed in Rodanthe since May, the park service reported.
In late September, three Rodanthe beachfront houses collapsed within a week due to intense storms and rising sea levels.
When were the previous collapses?
The National Park Service reported seven home collapses in Rodanthe in 2024, all happening since May.
- One unoccupied house on May 28 around 2:30 a.m.
- One unoccupied house on Aug. 16 at around 6:50 p.m.
- Two unoccupied houses on Sept. 20 during the early morning hours.
- One unoccupied house at Sept. 24 during the afternoon.
- One unoccupied house overnight Nov. 14 going into Nov. 15.
Why is this happening?
The village of Rodanthe – as well as others adjacent to the seashore – have been especially susceptible to coastal erosion caused by a combination of winds, waves, tides and rising seas, park officials have said.
Elevated beach-style homes sitting atop pilings were once protected by dunes and dry sand. But in recent years, the bases of many of these homes have been “either partially or fully covered with ocean water on a regular basis,” according to the park service.
When the houses are battered by strong winds and large waves, the water erodes the sand supporting the homes, increasing the chance of collapse.
Contributing: Ahjané Forbes, Gabe Hauari, Paste BNThis article was updated to add a video.