Multiple Oceanfront Homes Collapse in Buxton Amid Severe Coastal Erosion and Hazardous Weather

Three oceanfront homes in Buxton, North Carolina, collapsed on Tuesday due to large surf and severe erosion, marking the 12th, 13th, and 14th collapses on Hatteras Island since mid-September and the 24th since 2020 along Cape Hatteras National Seashore. These homes, all unoccupied at the time, were impacted by strong onshore winds from a coastal storm causing waves up to 10 feet and ongoing coastal erosion exacerbated by sea level rise and storm activity. The increasing frequency of collapses—six in 2024 and 13 in 2025—has sparked discussions about protecting threatened oceanfront structures, including proposals to relocate homes further inland and advocate for proactive insurance payouts for relocation or demolition. However, efforts face challenges such as high relocation costs, insurance restrictions, and limited funding for beach renourishment projects, with a recent $40 million FEMA grant request denied. The debris from collapsed homes poses environmental hazards and safety concerns, including reduced beach access and habitat loss. Lawmakers like Rep. Greg Murphy are working on legislation to address these issues, but local officials report no new renourishment projects are scheduled due to financial constraints.