Two Outer Banks homes collapse into ocean and more could fall at any time, park says

Two homes along North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday, May 10, and the National Park Service fears more are likely to fall in the coming days.

The homes are at 24265 Ocean Drive and 24235 Ocean Drive in Rodanthe, and they were unoccupied at the time, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

“The beach has been closed along all of Ocean Drive in Rodanthe to protect the public from hazards associated with the collapsed home and because there are additional homes in the area that may collapse,” the park said in a news release.

“Visitors should use caution when participating in recreational activities on the beach and in the ocean along Hatteras Island as debris is being spread widely across the Seashore.”

Photos show the debris includes not only parts of the houses but also furnishings. Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue posted photos on Facebook of lumber strewn hundreds of yards down the beach.

The first home fell into the ocean around 3 a.m. May 10, and the second occurred in the afternoon, according to the National Park Service.

The dangerous conditions have been created by a low pressure system off the coast, with “winds of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph,” according to the National Weather Service.

Multiple sections of coastal roads have been closed in Dare County, after the winds sent ocean overwash and sand sailing across travel lanes, according to the Dare County Sheriff’s Office.

One section of N.C. 12 near Oregon Inlet was buried under 2 feet of sand, the sheriff’s office reported. Meanwhile, the section near Hatteras Harbor was covered with four inches of water.

The N.C. Department of Transportation reported “worsening conditions” at high tide prompted a decision to keep N.C. 12 closed Wednesday, May 11, “from Oregon Inlet to Rodanthe.”

So far this year, three beach front homes on Ocean Drive have fallen into the ocean, McClatchy News reports.

In February, the National Park Service reported a two-story home at 24183 Ocean Drive fell and was ripped apart by wave action, leaving hazardous construction debris scattered for miles. It had a market value of $328,900, according to Trulia.

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This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 9:30 AM with the headline "Two Outer Banks homes collapse into ocean and more could fall at any time, park says."