Erosion Threatens Homes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks
Two homes along the North Carolina Outer Banks are in jeopardy as high waves continue to batter their foundations. Since 2020, at least eleven other homes in the area have already succumbed to the ocean’s relentless advance.
The aftermath of storms like Hurricane Erin adds to the troubling situation, as beach erosion worsens due to rising seas and ongoing climate changes. The small village of Rodanthe, with about 200 residents, stands farther out into the Atlantic than any other part of North Carolina, making it particularly vulnerable.
Local resident Jan Richards observed the two homes teetering on the brink, noting where two others once stood before collapsing into the surf. “The house in the middle fell last year right onto the adjacent house. That one has been resilient until this recent storm,” she explained.
More than a decade of development in these barrier islands has raised concerns, as experts remind us that such areas are inherently unstable. The shifting sands and changing tides make it difficult to maintain any structure in these locations, prompting conversations about whether homes should even be built along this fragile coastline.
According to David Hallac, superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, historical perspectives differ. In the past, structures were generally smaller and easier to relocate. “People understood that the barrier islands were dynamic and could shift,” he noted.
Even iconic landmarks like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse had to be moved inland due to the encroaching sea. Initially built in 1870, the lighthouse was over 1,500 feet from the ocean, but over the years, erosion has drawn the ocean dangerously close. Some areas along the Outer Banks lose as much as 10 to 15 feet of land per year.
As oceans continue to erode these barrier islands, experts stress the need for solutions, even though they may be costly. Options might include beach nourishment, which is already practiced in some areas, but such projects can run into the tens of millions of dollars, a steep price for small communities. Buying or demolishing at-risk properties also presents significant financial hurdles.
Braxton Davis from the North Carolina Coastal Federation warns that this challenge affects not only Rodanthe but stretches across the nation, impacting coastal areas from California to the Great Lakes. He emphasizes that rising sea levels are a growing concern for all, suggesting that the situation will only worsen without proactive measures.
