News Release

Another house in Rodanthe, N.C. collapses at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Debris from a collapsed house is spreading across the Seashore this morning. An organized volunteer beach cleanup event will occur once travel conditions improve.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: May 10, 2022

Contact: Michael Barber, 252-270-5389

MANTEO, N.C. — Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) confirmed reports this morning of an unoccupied house collapse at 24235 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe, N.C. 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.

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.

On Feb. 9, 2022, a house located at 24183 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe also collapsed onto Seashore property. The debris from this house spread across many miles of beaches before the homeowner, and volunteers in an organized beach cleanup event, were able to remove much of it. Clean up efforts for smaller pieces of debris related to the Feb. 9 house collapse continues.

“Unfortunately, there may be more houses that collapse onto Seashore beaches in the near future,” said David Hallac, superintendent, 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.”

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.

As photos from near the collapsed house site are taken, they will be posted to the Seashore’s Flickr page.