The daily effects of winds, waves, and tides, along with rising seas and storms, have played a part in contributing to coastal erosion impacts at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, particularly adjacent to the villages of Rodanthe and Buxton, North Carolina. The effects of erosion in these villages have resulted in structures being present on the open beachfront or in the intertidal area which may result in reduced beach access and safety for visitors, a loss of habitat for shorebirds and sea turtles, and, sometimes, structure collapses on Seashore beaches, resulting in many miles of beach debris.
Threatened Oceanfront Structures
Privately-owned oceanfront houses adjacent to Seashore beaches are typical, elevated beach-style homes situated on pilings with a concrete driveway, parking pad, and septic systems. Many private properties adjacent to the beach in Rodanthe, which previously contained backyard land, dunes, and dry sand, are either partially or fully covered with ocean water on a regular basis. During severe weather events, which the Outer Banks of North Carolina experiences throughout the year, privately-owned oceanfront houses in vulnerable areas get battered by strong winds and large waves, leading to the collapse of ten houses in recent years.
Photo taken May 10, 2022, showing portion of a collapsed house and associated debris in the ocean and on the beach at 24265 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe.
NPS Photo
Structure Collapse Timeline
Since 2020, eleven privately-owned houses have collapsed on Seashore beaches.
May 29, 2020: An unoccupied house collapsed during the overnight hours at 23238 Sea Oats Drive, Rodanthe.
February 9, 2022: On a calm winter day, an unoccupied house collapsed at 24183 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe.
May 10, 2022: During a multi-day nor'easter, an unoccupied house collapsed at 24235 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe. The collapsed occurred during the early morning hours.
May 10, 2022: During a multi-day nor'easter, an unoccupied house collapsed at 24265 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe. The collapse occurred during the early afternoon hours.
March 13, 2023: During inclement weather, an unoccupied house collapsed at 23228 East Point Drive, Rodanthe.
May 28, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed around 2:30 a.m. at 24131 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe.
August 16, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed at approximately 6:50 p.m. at 23214 Corbina Drive, Rodanthe.
September 20, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed during the early morning hours at 23001 G A Kohler Court, Rodanthe.
September 20, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed during the evening hours at 23009 G A Kohler Court, Rodanthe.
September 24, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed during the afternoon at 23039 G A Kohler Court, Rodanthe.
November 14/15, 2024: An unoccupied house collapsed during the overnight hours of November 14-15 at 23241 Surf Side Drive, Rodanthe.
What's Been Done?
Following the first house collapse in 2022, the National Park Service has taken a variety of actions to help protect America's first national seashore and its visitors including:
Communications with owners of collapsed houses regarding the importance of removing debris from Seashore beaches. Unfortunately, owner-initiated cleanup efforts have not always adequately restored beaches, so the Seashore has supplemented cleanup activities and sought cost recovery for costs associated with additional beach restoration.
Implementation of closures around other threatened houses in Rodanthe to provide for visitor safety during severe weather events or as a result of rough surf conditions.
Cleanup of miles of beach debris associated with each house collapse.
In partnership with Dare County, communicated with dozens of owners of other threatened houses to relay concerns about the structural stability of pilings and decks and exposed septic tanks and wires. Owners of threatened structures were strongly urged to fix issues or relocate the house, if possible.
Hosted multiple public meetings regarding threatened oceanfront structures in Rodanthe.
Helped form the Threatened Oceanfront Structures Interagency Work Group. The work group was established in August 2022 to engage with partner organizations and stakeholders to identify, research, and recommend policy and/or program improvements to establish more proactive, comprehensive, and predictable strategies for addressing structures at immediate risk of collapse. A Threatened Oceanfront Structures report was released August 26, 2024, by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Coastal Management.
Properties surrounded by ocean water at 23292 and 23298 East Beacon Road, Rodanthe.
NPS Photo
Pilot Program
In 2023, the Seashore purchased two threatened oceanfront properties and associated structures in Rodanthe. Thanks to the National Park Trust for their assistance and funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, properties at 23292 and 23298 East Beacon Road were purchased for fair market value using zero taxpayer dollars. Fair market value was determined by a certified appraiser and the Department of the Interior's Appraisal and Valuation Services Office.
The purchase of the two properties on East Beacon Road was pursued for the following reasons:
To mitigate the ongoing impacts of having threatened oceanfront structures impact visitor safety, public health, and wildlife habitat at the Seashore.
To assist threatened oceanfront structure owners that do not have viable options to move the structures or promptly remove debris following potential collapse.
To restore the beach and make the sites a public beach access where visitors from the surrounding community can walk onto the Seashore beach areas without walking through private properties.
To remove the structures or have the ability to respond to their collapse and clean up debris in a much quicker manner; thereby, minimizing impacts to park areas and visitors.
To evaluate the feasibility of a larger program.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is used to acquire lands, waters, and interested therein necessary to achieve the natural, cultural, wildlife, and recreation management objectives of the National Park Service. Using zero taxpayer dollars, the Land and Water Conservation Fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve our history, and protect our national endowment of lands and waters.
The Seashore on Nov. 7, 2023, hired W.M. Dunn Construction, LLC (contractor) from Powell's Point, North Carolina, for $72,500 to remove threatened structures from the two properties and restore the beach.
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, the contractor began removing the house at 23292 East Beacon Road.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, the contractor began removing the house at 23298 East Beacon Road.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, the project to remove both houses concluded and the adjoining lots were opened for the public to enjoy. Seashore staff took a Nov. 30 photo of the cleared beach.
Photos and videos of house removal activities are available on the Seashore's Flickr site.
Report to Congress
In December 2024, the National Park Service transmitted a report to Congress on erosion hotspots at Cape Hatteras National Seashore that would affect structures and infrastructure and related purposes.
The transmittal of the report was in response to the House of Representatives and the Senate direction within House Report 118-155 and Senate Report 118-83, which were referenced in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42).
The following language was included in House Report 118-155:
Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the Committee directs the Service to provide a report outlining erosion hot spots that affect neighboring communities and transportation corridors of the Seashore. The report should also include any updates on the North Carolina 12 Task Force's actvities, Dare County potential beach renourishment solutions, relevant costs, and any planned partner actions the Service is aware of as a result of the ongoing feasibility study related to beach renourishment at Rodanthe, including solutions, relevant costs, and any planned partner activities (p. 29).
The following langague was included in Senate Report 118-83:
The Committee directs the Service to continue work in coordination with local stakeholders as they identify potential long-term, cost-effective sediment management activities, including but not limited to beach nourishment, dune stabilization, emergency breach repair, buyout and relocation assistance programs to help property owners and minimize impacts to public lands, and transportation solutions that are resilient to coastal hazards. Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the Committee directs the Service to provide a report outlining erosion hot spots that affect neighboring communities and transportation corridors within and along the Seashore. The report should also include any updates on the North Carolina 12 Task Force's activities, Dare County potential beach nourishment solutions, relevant costs, and any planned partner actions the Service is aware of as a result of the ongoing feasability study related to beach renourishment at Rodanthe, including solutions, relevant costs, and any planned partner activities (pp. 38-39).
On December 2, 2024, the National Park Service transmitted its response to the House and Senate reports which is available to download below.
