Outer Banks home collapses into ocean in Buxton during high surf advisory Saturday night

BUXTON, N.C. (WNCN) — The Outer Banks went two weeks — and through a nor’easter — without a home collapsing into the ocean, but North Carolina’s luck ran out Saturday.

A home in Buxton was swept away during a high surf advisory on Saturday night, according to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the National Weather Service.

After nine oceanfront homes collapsed into the ocean between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3 — including five in one day — there were fears more homes would fall last weekend when a nor’easter hit the North Carolina coast.

Then, ocean overwash and high surf sent waves into Buxton and closed N.C. 12 in several areas at the coast. But, no homes fell.

However, an unoccupied house collapsed around 7:45 p.m. Saturday at 46006 Cottage Avenue in Buxton on Hatteras Island, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore said.

A high surf advisory is in effect for Hatteras Island with large breaking waves up to 9 feet, according to the Morehead City office of the National Weather Service.

Already, the beaches in Buxton are closed because of damage to dozens of houses and their septic systems.

The home collapse Saturday night will add another debris field to the beaches — and become trash that has to be hauled away.