Video Shows Outer Banks Homes Collapse Into Atlantic as Hurricanes Stir Rough Seas

BUXTON, N.C. — Shocking video captured the moment five beachfront homes collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday as rough surf from Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Homes Washed Away

According to the National Park Service, the unoccupied houses in Buxton, perched on stilts above the beach, succumbed to the pounding waves in the afternoon.

Video shared by Brayan Garcia showed the homes teetering before plunging into the surf, leaving the shoreline littered with two-by-fours, furniture, and household debris.

Officials with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore warned visitors to stay away from the collapse sites and to be cautious for miles along the coast due to hazardous debris. “More collapses are possible given the ocean conditions,” the agency said.

Erosion and Rising Seas

The collapse highlights the growing vulnerability of the Outer Banks’ barrier islands, which have been eroding for years due to sea level rise and increasingly powerful storms.

Since 2020, 17 privately owned homes have collapsed along seashore beaches, most in Rodanthe. Buxton lost its first home just two weeks ago. Experts note that barrier islands naturally shift with weather and ocean forces — some even disappearing altogether.

Transportation Disruptions

The storms also caused ocean overwash on Ocracoke Island, forcing the closure of part of North Carolina Highway 12 and suspension of the ferry between Ocracoke and Hatteras.

Portions of eastern North Carolina remain under coastal flood advisories and warnings, with dangerous surf expected through the week as swells from both hurricanes continue to impact the coast.

Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda

Satellite imagery shows both systems churning in the Atlantic. Humberto rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, while Imelda reached tropical storm strength but is forecast to move farther east. Neither storm is expected to make U.S. landfall, though their swells will continue to affect the coast for days.

Have you witnessed erosion or storm damage along the North Carolina coast? Share your experiences in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.