350+ truckloads of debris removed after 9 Outer Banks homes collapse into ocean over four days

BUXTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Crews at the Outer Banks have hauled away more than 350 truckloads of debris after 10 homes collapsed into the North Carolina surf during 17 days — including nine over four days last week and the latest Friday in Rodanthe.

Nine of the homes were swept into the sea starting exactly a week ago when Hurricane Imelda was off the North Carolina coast, bringing high surf and coastal flooding.

The first recent home collapse was on Sept. 16 in Buxton, with five more homes a week ago on Tuesday afternoon swept away within 45 minutes.

A sixth home last week collapsed overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. On Wednesday, around 5 p.m., a seventh home was swept away — also in Buxton. The eighth home collapsed Thursday afternoon and the most recent was in Rodanthe late Friday afternoon.

David Hallac, Cape Hatteras National Seashore superintendent, told CBS 17 on Tuesday that 363 truckloads of debris have been removed as of Tuesday. Hallac said that as of Sunday, just over 140 truckloads of debris had been taken away.

Nearly all light debris from the collapsed Rodanthe home was removed by Monday, mostly by the homeowner who hired contractors, Hallac said.

Debris from the Rodanthe home was spread over 18 miles of Outer Banks beaches, he said.

Debris from the eight homes in Buxton that fell last week was more concentrated over some miles, Hallac said. Some mounds of home wreckage were swept under existing Buxton homes and were able to pile-up, mostly in the Buxton area, he said.

Large debris piles have been created by crews, including a massive pile near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse that Hallac said has grown significantly since Monday, when it was about 100 feet long, 35 feet wide, and five feet high.

Although much of the debris that is seen is boards and housing material, the wreckage contains all kinds of items, including microwave ovens, washers and dryers, and kitchen sinks, Hallac said.

The most dangerous debris is boards with nails and water containing sewage from septic systems that were destroyed.

“Our important public safety message for people is to stay out of the area due to the hazardous debris and hazards associated with additional threatened oceanfront structures,” Hallac said in an email to CBS 17.