More than 50 truckloads of debris collected and removed after Rodanthe home collapse

Noticeable progress has been made in cleaning the shoreline since a home collapsed at the end of Ocean Drive in Rodanthe at approximately 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) reported that as of Wednesday afternoon, (and roughly 36 hours after the collapse), a total of 53 truckloads of debris have been removed, and have been brought to a staging area for disposal at ORV Ramp 23, just south of Salvo.

31 pick-up trucks were loaded with debris on Tuesday, and 22 more truckloads of debris were collected on Wednesday.

A beach cleanup event on Wednesday morning drew 16 local volunteers who signed up at the Rodanthe Pier, in addition to 25 CHNS employees who also helped with the cleanup efforts.

“We are also aware that there are visitors and residents who walk up and down the beach who did some clean up along the way, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped,” said Michael Barber, Public Affairs Specialist for CHNS.

The surrounding beach looked significantly cleaner on Wednesday afternoon, but an approximately one-mile-long beach closure from Sea Haven Drive to South Shore Drive remains in place, for now.

“With safety in mind, we’ll be evaluating the closure regularly, and our staff plan on being out over the next couple of days to continue the clean-up, [alongside] the contractor who has been out there since yesterday morning,” said Barber, referring to the debris removal contractor who was hired by the homeowner.

“We want to make sure it’s as safe as can be.”

On Thursday, CHNS personnel plan on deploying the agency’s surf rake, which is a heavy piece of equipment that is designed to collect smaller pieces of micro-debris, or tiny pieces of plywood, wood trim, and other particles from the former home that may still have embedded nails or sharp edges.

The surf rake has been used for prior home collapses, beginning in May 2022.

This is the sixth oceanfront home in Rodanthe to collapse in the past four years. In March 2023, an adjacent oceanfront home collapsed at 23228 East Point Drive in Rodanthe. On May 10, 2022, two unoccupied homes, also located on Ocean Drive, collapsed within a 12-hour period. 

In February 2022 and May 2020, two additional Rodanthe homes in the Ocean Drive vicinity also collapsed into the ocean. All of these home collapses resulted in a large debris field on Hatteras Island, which was addressed and cleaned up by the National Park Service, local volunteers, and/or contractors enlisted by the homeowners themselves.

In this most recent 2024 instance, however, CHNS personnel were prepared.

The home, built in 1970 and located at 24131 Ocean Drive, had been unoccupied for several years, according to area residents.

“In early March 2022, we contacted the owner of [the house] after learning that the house was considered unsafe by Dare County. In a letter to the homeowner, [CHNS] recommended that the home and all associated structures, such as septic systems and parking areas, be moved well away from the ocean to prevent additional impacts to the Seashore, and in advance of a catastrophic collapse,” said Barber.

“So, we were monitoring this house closely, and we did notice that approximately a week to 10 days ago, the home was noticeably leaning towards the ocean.”

Because of this visible threat, CHNS personnel were ready to react when the collapse occurred, which resulted in the fast response over the past two days.

“What we’ve learned [from previous house collapses] is to get out there as soon as possible, with as many people as possible, to help with the clean-up,” said Barber. “We wanted to get out there as soon as we could to remove debris, so it doesn’t negatively impact us days later.”

Once an oceanfront home collapses, the debris field can spread for miles if it is not properly contained.

During the two back-to-back May 2022 home collapses, the debris field spread as far as 15 miles, per multiple reports.

“In this instance, we had boots on the ground as soon as possible,” said Barber.

Beachgoers and residents in the immediate area say they are amazed at how much has been accomplished in less than two days. “I am impressed with the speed that the property was cleaned up,” said Rick Shaftan, a Rodanthe resident who has lived within a mile of all six home collapses.

According to area residents, the beach looks like it did three days ago, although there are still small pieces of debris that are washing ashore with the incoming tides.

“We have been encouraged by the progress we have seen over the last couple of days,” said Barber, “but we know from experience that there will be smaller debris and micro-debris that is a lot harder to collect.

“So, we know in the coming days, we will have more work to do to clean up the beach.”