Six homes destroyed by coastal flooding in Buxton, North Carolina

Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda produced dangerous coastal flooding along the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday, September 30, destroying at least six unoccupied homes in Buxton.

According to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, five structures collapsed between 14:00 and 14:45 LT (18:00–18:45 UTC), prompting the closure of the beachfront from northern Buxton through off-road vehicle ramp 43.

A sixth home collapsed later in the evening at around 23:00 LT (03:00 UTC, October 1). This residence, located at 46203 Tower Circle Road, was built in 1984 and contained three bedrooms and two and a half baths.

The National Park Service will coordinate cleanup operations with owners once conditions allow. The beach in Buxton remains closed due to hazardous debris, and officials warn that additional collapses are possible in Buxton and Rodanthe during Wednesday’s high tide, October 1.

Tuesday’s incidents bring the total to seven oceanfront home collapses in Buxton within two weeks. Another residence at 46227 Tower Circle Road, built in 1976, fell on September 16. Since 2020, Hatteras Island has recorded 18 home collapses, including six in Rodanthe during 2024.

“For now, travel on NC12 on Hatteras Island should be avoided several hours before and after the upcoming high tides and please give way to the Road Pros as they work to keep NC12 safe,” Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson said.

Ocean overwash forced the North Carolina Department of Transportation to close NC12 at the north end of Ocracoke Island on September 30, immediately after the final ferry from Hatteras. The closure is expected to continue until at least October 2.

At 12:00 UTC on October 1, the center of Hurricane Imelda was located about 640 km (395 miles) west-southwest of Bermuda.

The system was moving east-northeast at 33 km/h (21 mph) with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 974 hPa.

Imelda is expected to strengthen near Category 2 intensity as it approaches Bermuda later today, bringing hurricane-force winds extending up to 95 km (60 miles) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds out to 370 km (230 miles).

Forecast impacts include 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) of rainfall, with potential for flash flooding, a dangerous storm surge capable of causing coastal flooding, and large, damaging waves.

Humberto’s center was located about 450 km (280 miles) NNW of Bermuda at 12:00 UTC today. Its maximum sustained winds were near 130 km/h (80 mph) with higher gusts. Slight weakening is possible today, but Humberto is expected to remain a powerful cyclone until it merges with a frontal boundary tonight.

Swells from both Imelda and Humberto are affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the U.S. East Coast, generating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Teo Blašković

I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.

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