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NPS purchases OBX homes at risk of collapsing into the sea

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published October 18, 2023 at 6:09 AM EDT
One of the homes on Ocean Drive in Rodanthe that collapsed last February.
(Photo: National Park Service)
One of the homes on Ocean Drive in Rodanthe that collapsed.

The National Park Service is buying up homes in the Outer Banks that are at risk of falling into the sea because of beach erosion.

In the same strand at Cape Hatteras in Rodanthe where several homes have collapsed into the Atlantic, NPS recently bought two houses for more than $700,000 combined.

Officials say the money is coming from a fund used to protect important cultural and natural areas.

The park service plans to tear the houses down and bring in a contractor to restore the beach before opening the area to the public.

If the homes collapse before demolition, the park will be responsible for the cleanup and restoration.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston