RODANTHE, N.C. — Another home in Rodanthe, North Carolina has collapsed into the ocean, officials with Cape Hatteras National Seashore said Monday afternoon.
The one-story house was located on East Point Drive, which is close to the North Carolina Highway 12 roundabout that leads to the Jug Handle Bridge.
Officials said visitors should use caution in the area due to the debris stemming from the collapse. They're in touch with the homeowner to coordinate the removal of the house and the debris on the beach.
"In an effort to protect Cape Hatteras National Seashore's natural resources and help ensure the safety of visitors, the National Park Service began cleaning the beach [Tuesday] morning," said Mike Barber with the National Park Service.
He said "varying levels of debris" from the home were reported on Seashore beaches between the north end of Rodanthe and the south end of Avon.
Barber said the Park Service would also likely organize a volunteer beach cleanup event soon.
The collapse happened as Rodanthe residents continue to face beach erosion that threatens several homes situated right on the edge of the beach. Rodanthe is eroding up to around 12 feet a year, according to some estimates.
To address the problem, several residents have called for a beach nourishment project, when sand is dredged from miles offshore and pumped onto the beach.
Dare County spent almost $72 million in 2022 for beach nourishment in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Avon, and Buxton. A project in Rodanthe faces a hefty price tag of $30 million.