The debris field from a seventh house that has collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Hatteras National Seashore/NPS
Visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore are being urged to stay out of the Atlantic Ocean around all areas of the beaches at Rodanthe, North Carolina, where another house has been toppled by the ocean.
The unoccupied beach house, the seventh house to collapse into the surf at the national seashore in the past four years, was lost Friday evening, according to a park release.
Along with the warning to stay out of the ocean near Rodanthe, all public entry from the northern boundary of Rodanthe up to the northern end of the Jug Handle Bridge was closed Friday night. Many other homes appear to have sustained damages in the Rodanthe area, the park release said, and dangerous debris may be present on the beach and in the water for more than a dozen miles.
Prevailing currents appeared to be rapidly transporting home debris to the north; however, if the wave swell and winds shift over the coming days, debris may also impact visitor safety in the villages of Waves and Salvo.
The national seashore is in communications with the property owner. A debris removal contractor has not been obtained by the owner at this time. Debris removal activities may be conducted by National Park Service staff if other efforts to remove debris do not occur. The National Park Service does not expect significant debris removal efforts to occur until after the elevated sea conditions subside early next week.
