A second unoccupied home collapsed along the oceanfront in Rodanthe at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, per multiple reports. The home was located at 24265 Ocean Drive, and was adjacent to a home that collapsed overnight at 24235 Ocean Drive.
The property was a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home that was originally built in 1980. The first home that collapsed within the 12-hour timeframe was a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home that was built in 1985.
Per photographer Don Bowers, the home took approximately four minutes to fully fall into the ocean and deteriorate into debris, with only the top level of the home remaining somewhat intact and visible.
The beach has been closed along Ocean Drive in Rodanthe as of Tuesday morning to protect the public from hazards associated with the collapsed homes. 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 2022 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 9 additional homes in the Rodanthe area that are on the verge of collapsing as well.
The National Seashore will be working closely with the homeowners 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.
Volunteers are currently being recruited for a future beach cleanup through the non-profit organization Outer Banks Forever, which will be held when weather conditions allow. Click here for more information.
