Wednesday, June 7, 2023
By Submitted Story on March 14, 2023
National Park Service employees collect debris from the beach before loading into vehicle for disposal. (NPS Photo)
UPDATE: On Thursday, March 16, the public is invited to help National Park Service staff at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) clean up some of the debris associated with a March 13 house collapse.
Supplies will be provided for this organized effort to help National Park Service staff clean up small debris. Much of the wood pieces that have washed up on the beach have exposed nails, so all volunteers are encouraged to wear thick-soled footwear. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Individuals who plan to clean the beach either before or after these events should place garbage bags and debris well above the high tide line to ensure the items don’t get washed back into the ocean.
March 14: National Park Service employees at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) this morning (March 14) began cleaning up debris associated with yesterday’s unoccupied, one-story house collapse at 23228 East Point Drive in Rodanthe. The proactive cleanup response is an effort to protect the Seashore’s natural resources and help ensure the safety of visitors.
Almost all the house debris has washed away from the property and spread to the north and south. Varying levels of debris associated with the house collapse have been spotted on Seashore beaches between the north end of Rodanthe and the south end of Avon, approximately 21 miles.
As of 3 p.m. today, National Park Service employees have collected and removed 20 truckloads of house debris from the beach.
In a March 11 communication to the owner of 23228 East Point Drive, the Seashore recommended actions be taken to mitigate threats to Seashore lands and waters. As of today, the owner of the house has not developed a plan to clean up the debris.
National Park Service employees will continue to clean up debris, and there may be formal volunteer cleanup opportunities once conditions improve.
SEE ALSO: Another oceanfront home collapses in Rodanthe
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Bobby
The owner has no plan for trash pickup. Why aren’t these houses condemned and removed before they litter the whole area?
Bill
NPS always gets stuck with the cleanup. They should bill the Owner.
Pearl
Why?? Do we let these people reap the rental income and then let them pollute our beaches while we pay for the clean up. WHY?
Please will a decent attorney come up with a solution. PLEASE.
Jay
“Why aren’t these houses condemned and removed before they litter the whole area?”
I’ve been told the loss has to occur, the house fall into the ocean, in order for insurance to pay for the loss.
Pearl
Why should anybody have to pay for THEIR INVESTMENT loss?
That’s what it is plan and simple. They lost just like your portfolio takes losses, except everyone else does not have to pay for it.
Not your insurer, not your county and not your federal government. I am tired of the argument THEY PAID TAXES. They wrote them off along with depreciation. They gambled they lost
and in Las Vegas they would have to pay up.
Lisa
These are tough situations. But if I was the owner I would be coming this way to help, to see what is going on, something-but not waiting for NPS to be contacting me.
Charles
Note to self : Stay out of the ocean for awhile, or at least go swimming in heavy boots.
surf123
@Pearl…Were this someone’s permanent residence (as in live in it year round, pay NC taxes, have cars registered to the address and have a driver’s license with the address) then it would be different in terms of how it should be handled. Since this is not (could be a second home or rental home) there should be no public accommodation for them in anyway. I doubt the NPS will have much luck collecting money from the homeowner unless the home does not have a mortgage. They might be able to recoup a portion of the flood insurance, but even that might be tough. Houses have been falling since the 80’s and no one cared. Social media has made it trendy to make a big deal out of it and the national papers picked it up prop up the climate change agenda. BTW this is not climate change, but instead man drawing a line in the sand by putting off dunes that stop the natural flow of sand to the sound. Barrier island retreat naturally and this is no different other than permanent structures are falling. Maybe that this house, but there are many that had 30-40 years at the oceanfront. Also for those that do not know this house, some adjacent ones, and all of Ocean Drive have been waiting to fall for several years so this is no surprise.
Sandflea
Pearl;
They always whine about how they pay… makes them feel more entitled than they already are. These so-called Libertarians become Socialists as soon as their decisions that THEY have made don’t work out. They are always the first in line with their hand out for a handout.
Tri-Village
There’s going to be a lot more clean up after the next Nor’Easter. Take a walk on the beach from Surfside dr to Corbina. The houses on the beach are dangling . Going to be an interesting next few weeks.
Lemonshirt
We need some legislation aimed at the insurance industry to allow/enforce claims for properties in eminent impending peril.
Just Another Mike
@surf123 – You are spot on!! I would also add that the people that say they should just condemn the house and remove it at the owner’s expense should think about that a little and the slippery slope that would follow. If you’re oaky with the government taking someone’s home for the reason that it may be reclaimed by the sea, then are you also okay for other reasons? What about when they come for your home. Like it or not, land owner rights are engrained in the 4th amendment to the constitution and for good reason. Let us not let our elected officials think it’s okay to take someone’s home for any reason. Do I think the owner should pay for the cleanup, yes, but that is a different issue.
Pearl
No we do not need the insurance company to pay. That will raise all of our rates. They bought this house when it was in perilous proximity to the ocean and took a gamble they lost. We need legislation to force them to pay for cleanup. If you buy such property you should be forced to have an escrow account and not be allowed to just collect rent and reap the benefits.