An unoccupied oceanfront house located at 24235 Ocean Drive in Rodanthe has collapsed overnight, per a Tuesday morning update from Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
“Unfortunately, there may be more houses that collapse onto Seashore beaches in the near future,” said David Hallac, Superintendent for the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina. “We proactively reached out to homeowners along Ocean Drive in Rodanthe after the first house collapse and recommended that actions be taken to prevent collapse and impacts to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”
Per Dare County tax records, the property was a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home that was originally built in 1985.
The beach has been closed along Ocean Drive in Rodanthe as of Tuesday morning to protect the public from hazards associated with the collapsed home, and because there are additional homes in the area that are in danger. Visitors should use caution when on the beach in between the villages of Rodanthe and Salvo, as debris will likely spread throughout the day.
In February of 2021 and May of 2020, two Rodanthe homes in the Ocean Drive vicinity also collapsed into the ocean, resulting in a large debris field along the northern Hatteras Island shoreline. Per a March public meeting hosted by the National Park Service, there are approximately 10 homes in the Rodanthe area that are on the verge of collapsing as well.
The Seashore will be working closely with the homeowner to coordinate cleanup activities and public updates will be provided when available. Visitors who plan to clean up some of the debris should place piles above the high tide line, so that the debris doesn’t get washed back into the ocean.
