Five coastal homes collapse as hurricanes ravage North Carolina’s Outer Banks
The collapses all occurred in Buxton within about 45 minutes, starting about 2 p.m. ET. North Carolina Beach Buggy Association
BUXTON, N.C. — Five unoccupied homes were destroyed Tuesday afternoon after collapsing into the Atlantic Ocean as relentless waves from Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda pounded North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
The incidents occurred in Buxton within about 45 minutes, starting shortly after 2 p.m. ET, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“It was insane, it sounded like bombs going off,” said local resident Hunter Hicks in an interview with FOX Weather. “Windows were cracking, pylons were cracking, houses were just washing down into the ocean. It’s pretty bad here right now.”
Three of the homes that collapsed were side by side on Cottage Avenue, while two others fell on nearby Tower Circle Road.
“All the houses are taking a beating. It’s devastating,” photographer Jenni Koontz told FOX Weather. “The damage is unmeasurable at this point. As a local that lives here, it’s heartbreaking, not only for the homeowners but for our community.”
Massive debris piles have merged, making it difficult to determine which remains belong to which house. “I don’t know how this is going to be cleaned up quickly,” Koontz said. “There’s a lot of debris, and I think we’re just getting started. The rest of the week could be even worse, and more houses will probably fall.”
Hicks noted that renters had been staying in some of the destroyed homes as recently as a month ago before evacuations began. “It’s very upsetting,” he said.
Though neither storm is expected to make landfall along the East Coast, their powerful waves are forecast to continue battering the shoreline throughout the week.
The National Weather Service has issued Coastal Flood Warnings for Ocracoke Island through Friday evening, predicting ocean water levels 2–3 feet above ground, with some areas experiencing even higher inundation and dangerous wave action. Officials warn that flooding could threaten homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, North Carolina Highway 12 was shut down at the north end of Ocracoke Island, where ocean overwash has made driving hazardous, according to the state Department of Transportation.
With more days of heavy surf in the forecast, Koontz said vulnerable homes are unlikely to withstand the pounding much longer. “A lot of them are hanging on by a thread,” she said. “Some are braced better than others, but most are losing support. This beach is just getting started with the weather, and I imagine there will be many more collapses.”
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