Home collapses into Atlantic Ocean on Memorial Day along NC’s Outer Banks, officials say
Another home has collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, forcing the National Park Service to close a large stretch of beach.
The home was located at 24131 Ocean Drive in Rodanthe, and it was not occupied at the time, park officials said in a Tuesday, May 28, news release.
One mile of beach is off limits for safety reasons, from Sea Haven Drive to South Shore Drive, park officials said.
“The house likely collapsed around 2:30 a.m. ... May 28,” Cape Hatteras National Seashore reported.
“Due to the direction that the debris is expected to drift, visitors are urged to avoid the beaches north of Sea Haven Drive into the southern portion of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Dangerous debris may be present on the beach and in the water.”
Additional sections of beach may be closed as the debris fields expands, officials said.
A debris removal contractor was hired by the property owner and work could begin as early as Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue was the first to issue a hazard warning around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 28. Photos shared by the department show furniture was included in the debris.
Rodanthe is among the Outer Banks towns hardest hit by beach erosion — a normal part of beach living that has worsened due to rising sea levels, experts say.
Six homes at Cape Hatteras National Seashore have fallen into the ocean since 2020, the National Park Service says.
“Four out of the ... collapses occurred over a 13-month period of time, including two collapses on the same day,” the park service wrote in a news release.
“Debris from the collapses was spotted more than 15 miles from the collapse site.”
The debris can be hazardous, including nail-filled boards, broken glass and parts of septic systems, officials say.
The NPS purchased two beach homes in 2023 and had them torn down after studies revealed they were destined to fall into the ocean at any time, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.
This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 8:26 AM with the headline "Home collapses into Atlantic Ocean on Memorial Day along NC’s Outer Banks, officials say."