Two beachfront homes in North Carolina’s Outer Banks are precariously close to collapse, battered by the relentless waves of Hurricane Erin.
Since 2020, nearly a dozen neighboring homes have succumbed to the Atlantic Ocean.
The houses, located right along the coastline, face an ever-present risk, as noted by the National Park Service, which manages much of the region.
They highlight that many homes are situated on what was once stable land, dunes, and dry sand, but are now regularly inundated by ocean water.
Photographs reveal the precarious state of the homes in Rodanthe, North Carolina, where they hang on wooden support beams as choppy waters surge beneath.
On Thursday morning, high tides exacerbated the situation, sending waves crashing into the already vulnerable support structures.
In one photo, the beams appear to strain under the pressure, bending inward, showcasing the urgent need for attention.
Rodanthe, home to approximately 200 residents, extends further into the Atlantic Ocean than any other area in North Carolina.
Experts contend that the development of homes on barrier islands like the Outer Banks has always been ill-advised.
These islands are formed by sediment deposited by waves from the mainland and remain in constant flux, influenced by weather patterns and oceanic forces.
Some areas are even known to vanish altogether.
Historically, buildings on these islands were modest, smaller, and easier to reposition as the surf encroached; a reality discussed by David Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Hallac remarked, “Perhaps it was more well understood in the past that the barrier island was dynamic, that it was moving.
And if you built something on the beachfront it may not be there forever or it may need to be moved.”
In the last five years alone, at least 11 homes have been lost to the ocean in Rodanthe.
In September 2024, three homes crumbled within a single week, illustrating the urgent threat posed by rising water levels.
These elevated risks are evident across the Outer Banks, where some locations experience a loss of up to 10 to 15 feet of beachfront annually.
Hallac explained, “All of a sudden, the foreshore, that area between low water and high water, is right up next to somebody’s backyard.
And then the erosion continues.”
A recent analysis from federal, state, and local officials studying the fate of oceanfront properties in North Carolina revealed that 750 out of nearly 8,800 structures in the state are at risk due to erosion.
As Hurricane Erin approaches, its outer bands have begun affecting the Outer Banks and the entire East Coast, bringing strong winds and waves.
Forecasters have warned that significant beach erosion is likely as a consequence, potentially leading to temporary road blockages.
Some parts of the Outer Banks urged residents to evacuate ahead of the storm.
Among those who stayed is 96-year-old Carol Diller.
Owner of a motel for 70 years, she expressed grave concerns over the erosion impacting her business.
“With the buildings against a national park, we can’t rebuild further back,” she lamented.
Diller fears, “We could wash away completely.”
The situation illustrates the precarious reality faced by residents of the Outer Banks as the erosion crisis intensifies.
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