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Houses Collapse Into the Ocean as Hurricanes Rage Offshore

The stilted homes crumpled onto the beach.

Homes in North Carolina have collapsed into the ocean after Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda raged out to sea, becoming the latest beachfront properties to fall victim to the harsh weather. Five empty, stilted homes teetered in the wind before crumpling into the surf below, leaving the shoreline clogged with debris. Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported, but warned that more collapses are possible due to the hazardous ocean conditions, urging visitors to avoid the area in Buxton, along the state’s Outer Banks. This event brings the total number of houses lost on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches to 17 since 2020, as increasingly volatile weather conditions and rising sea levels have exacerbated the erosion of the low-lying barrier islands. Although no casualties were reported, the hurricanes also generated dangerous surf and ocean overwash, forcing officials to close a section of the highway and suspend ferry services in the area. Park rangers have urged visitors to steer clear of the collapsed homes and to avoid debris.