ERNESTO’S HIGH SURF SWEEPS OBX HOME INTO OCEAN IN RODANTHE

Rodanthe, N.C. — As the East Coast felt the wrath of Hurricane Ernesto’s high surf, a distressing casualty of the storm came in the form of a beachfront home in Rodanthe, North Carolina, that succumbed to the ocean on Friday, according to local fire crews. Even though Hurricane Ernesto is currently hundreds of miles out into the Atlantic, its effects are causing dangerous rip currents and swells along the beaches.

According to the National Weather Service, the area is under a high surf advisory warning – incoming waves may reach as high as 8 feet, coupled with the deadly combination of high tides and vicious currents. This had disastrous consequences for a house in the Rodanthe community on Hatteras Island, which was relentlessly claimed by the surf.

Debris Pose Additional Threat

Footage showed the unfortunate home from East Corbina Drive adrift in the turbulent sea, according to the Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue. They issued cautionary advice to the public: “Please do not enter the ocean as the debris will be washing around for the next few days.”

This is not an isolated incident. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore reveals that the incident from Friday is the seventh incidence of home collapses on their shores over the past four years.

Dangerous Trend: The Sea Reclaiming Land

A troubling trend is emerging as since 2022, four houses have been swallowed by the sea along the North Carolina coast. Notably, in March 2023, a single-story home at 23228 East Point Drive in Rodanthe could not stand against the relentless surf. Even more strikingly, the year 2022 saw three homes in the Outer Banks succumbing to the sea, with two taking place in just a single day.

The aftermath is not just the loss of homes, but the widespread debris causing additional damage. The home that succumbed in 2023 led to debris spread across 21 miles of shoreline, requiring massive cleanup efforts, with one such effort witnessing 42 truckloads of waste removed from the beach.

Weather Patterns Continue to Threaten Coast

Residents and authorities are growing increasingly wary as our weather patterns continue to threaten the safety and security of coastal spaces. Beach erosion and consequently, the integrity of homes and infrastructure near the beaches, remain at risk.