RODANTHE, N.C. — Officials on the Outer Banks are advising the public to avoid a small stretch of beach in Rodanthe after a number of hazards were exposed by erosion,
Cape Hatteras National Seashore said the beach adjacent to G.A. Kohler Court is temporarily closed due to things like house-related septic systems, wires, pipes, and broken concrete parking pads were all exposed by the ocean.
Seashore officials said there may be more hazards in other sections of the beach in Rodanthe so beachgoers are advised to use caution in the area.
Wind, waves, rising seas, and storms have all led to erosion of the seashore, specifically near the villages of Rodanthe and Buxton. Throughout the year, many of these homes situated atop pilings are partially or fully covered by water, park officials previously told 13News Now.
In November 2023, Seashore officials started tearing down "threatened oceanfront structures" that were determined to pose a safety risk as coastal erosion impacts much of the coast.
Those living in Rodanthe have sought to use beach nourishment to address the rapidly eroding shoreline, but the proposed solution faces high costs and would only temporarily fix the problem before needing to be done again.
According to previous 13News Now coverage, new research could help the area adapt to the changes, rather than throw a bandage on the problem caused by sea-level rise.
In 2023, the San Diego Union-Tribune interviewed a renowned oceanographer in California, who uncovered new evidence that sand doesn’t always flow south in a particular part of San Diego. That challenges a notion that has shaped efforts to rebuild the region's beaches for years.