BUXTON, N.C. — A nightmare is becoming a reality in Buxton as multiple homes collapsed on Tuesday. The Buxton Civic Association hopes this can be a turning point in the future of stabilizing the area. Beach nourishment and a jetty repair are expected next year.
Five oceanfront homes in Buxton collapsed into the water on Tuesday, with another falling Wednesday morning. In total, 18 Hatteras Island homes have fallen since 2020.
“It's awful, something that I think we all knew we might see one day, but there was a big part of us that hoped it wouldn't actually happen," said Heather Jennette, with the Buxton Civic Association.
"I think it has to be some sort of turning point, either, you know, a recognition that it's too late for these homes, but we've figured out some paths forward that we can maybe save the rest, the second line, you know, before the other side of old lighthouse becomes ocean front," Jennette stated.
But with worries about what the rest of the week will bring, Buxton is going to need help.
“We're going to need some help when it's over; we're going to need help moving forward. We're going to need help from the legislature making some changes that allow us to help ourselves. And we've been screaming at semi deaf ears, so it's time to get them unclogged," Jennette said.
On Tuesday, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore says the unoccupied homes collapsed between 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. There are no reported injuries at this time.
Seashore officials have closed the entire oceanfront area from northern Buxton to the off-road vehicle (ORV) ramp 43. Anyone using ORV ramp 38 should avoid driving south.
Watch: Video shows aftermath of Buxton home collapses
Here is a list of the houses that collapsed, as of Tuesday afternoon:
- 46001 Cottage Avenue
- 46002 Cottage Avenue
- 46007 Cottage Avenue
- 46209 Tower Circle Road
- 46211 Tower Circle Road
More collapses were expected due to the rough surf, the seashore said on Wednesday — visitors were advised to avoid the surrounding area due to dangerous debris.
News 3 Meteorologist Tony Nargi says the Outer Banks is seeing very rough surf Tuesday, thanks to Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda offshore, with heights of 6 to 12 feet and NE wind gusts between 35 and 45 mph. These winds and high surf will lead to coastal erosion, and overwash is expected in vulnerable areas of the dune. A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect from Rodanthe and points south for 2 to 3 feet of coastal floodwater inundation.
The collapses come two weeks after another Buxton home was claimed by the ocean. The home was owned by the family of Bonnie Clarke Lattimore, who tells News 3 the family had conversations of moving it two years ago. They recently started the process to move it after Hurricane Erin, but time wasn't on their side before the ultimate collapse of "Dream House One."
“The amount of people and love and memories of those house... I feel like someone died. You can hear it in my like emotions. I've been really struggling this past week with it all," said Lattimore.
Before the recent Buxton collapses, all of the homes that have fallen into the ocean since 2020 have been located in Rodanthe.
The collapses have sparked discussions about how to protect threatened oceanfront structures. One solution that's been underway includes moving homes further away from the water, but community members and officials are still working to take other preventative measures.
