Crews Rush to Save Outer Banks Home Before Collapse

Coastal erosion claims 31 homes in Buxton and Rodanthe since 2020.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:07pm

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New video from Buxton, North Carolina shows crews attempting to shore up and save an oceanfront house sitting barely above the tideline. Many of these homes were once hundreds of feet from the beach but are now constantly exposed to ocean water, a drastic example of ongoing coastal erosion exacerbated by storms over the last several years.

Why it matters

The Outer Banks region has seen a dramatic increase in homes collapsing into the Atlantic Ocean due to severe coastal erosion, highlighting the growing threat of climate change and the need for better coastal management strategies.

The details

According to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 31 homes in Buxton and nearby Rodanthe have collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean since 2020. Large waves from recent hurricanes like Erin, Humberto, and Imelda have amplified the erosion, with 8 homes collapsing in September and October 2025 alone. The beach around Buxton Village remains closed to public entry as coastal storms have damaged homes and septic systems.

  • Since 2020, 31 homes have collapsed in Buxton and Rodanthe.
  • In September and October 2025, 8 homes collapsed amid swells generated by Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda.
  • In late January, a historic bomb-cyclone nor'easter caused 4 unoccupied homes to collapse.

The players

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The national park that manages the Outer Banks region of North Carolina.

David Hallac

Superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, who has commented on the rapid coastal erosion in the area.

Jenni Koontz

A photographer from Epic Shutter Photography who captured video of crews attempting to save an oceanfront home in Buxton.

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What they’re saying

“The houses were originally built away from the ocean but over time, in some areas like this location in Buxton, we can have more than 10 feet of erosion of the beach annually.”

— David Hallac, Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore

What’s next

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore will continue to monitor the situation and work with local authorities to address the growing threat of coastal erosion in the Outer Banks region.

The takeaway

The collapse of dozens of homes in the Outer Banks due to severe coastal erosion is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change and develop more resilient coastal management strategies to protect vulnerable communities.