27 Beach Houses Have Collapsed On NC Outer Banks Since 2020; 15 In Last Month

[hatrack]

The sea claimed five more homes Tuesday, as the churning Atlantic surf, high winds and severe erosion continue to wreak havoc on parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The National Park Service said the unoccupied homes in Buxton gave way between 10:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., each in the stretch that has experienced an astounding number of such collapses in recent weeks.

The agency said 27 privately owned houses have collapsed along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore since 2020. But 15 of those happened in the past month alone: one in the town of Rodanthe and the rest in Buxton. “The oceanfront of Buxton is becoming unrecognizable,” Brett Barley, a professional surfer and board member of the Buxton Civic Association, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.

Ed. - Actually, I'd say it's becoming a lot more recognizable - as a beach, not a suburb.

Barley, a Buxton native, wrote that it was gutting to see parts of once-familiar roads now empty of homes. “Not just the front line of houses, but now homes that were 2 back, and 3 back from the ocean are gone or at water’s edge,” he wrote, noting that while some were rental houses, others are locals’ homes or dwellings that have been in families for generations. “It’s heartbreaking to see, and a lot to take in and process.”

The collapses, which once again will hinder public access to nearby beaches and likely spread debris for miles, were not entirely unexpected. The National Weather Service had warned that a coastal low would bring gusty winds, hazardous marine conditions, and periods of heavy rainfall to the area. Forecasters expected gusts up to 55 mph in parts of the Outer Banks and predicted that swelling waves could worsen coastal flooding.

EDIT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/10/28/outer-banks-homes-collapse/

[Srkdqltr]

1. They knew the buildings would collapse, why were they not torn down?

I don't understand why these houses are left to litter the beach. The beach will never be useful.

[mountain grammy]

3. Like the "news" said..

they will become driftwood.. sounds good..not!

[Srkdqltr]

4. Drift wood, glass, nails.

[mountain grammy]

5. Exactly

[TBA]

2. My Father was a land developer

He would never buy land on barrier islands even though they were hot properties. He called them glorified sand bars, and he wouldn't buy land that could disappear.