21 Houses Collapse Into Atlantic

By Douglas McIntyre  •  October 26, 2025
stein egil liland Pexels

After a home recently collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Hatteras National Seashore, according to the National Park Service, the figure for the area has risen to 21 since 2020. Based on the condition of the coastline, the danger is not over. 

The Park Service announcement read “Due to the presence of threatened oceanfront structures, the beach in the village of Rodanthe, from East Point Drive south for approximately 0.15 miles to Surfside Drive, is closed.”

The EPA says that this part of North Carolina has suffered the worst beach erosion of any section of the US Atlantic Coast. The primary cause is the effects of climate change, compounded by the extent to which large storms have made the situation even more dire. The erosion process can take years, if not decades. And, the problem is irreversible. There are dozens of homes in the area that are in similar situations. And if a hurricane makes direct landfall in the region, the number of homes at risk rises quickly. 

Hurricanes From Florida

Two things are worth noting. The pace of ice melting at the two poles and across Greenland means sea levels along the North Carolina coast could rise by 2 feet by the end of the century.

The other is that the risk of violent hurricanes has increased due to warming Atlantic waters. These storms often ride up the coast from Florida or cross the Florida Panhandle and directly into North Carolina, as was the case with Hurricane Helene.

  1. Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
  2. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!
More from ClimateCrisis 247

Similar Posts