Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Buxton Cleanup Surpasses 350 Debris Loads After Oceanfront Home Collapses

New 3D mapping shows Buxton lost up to 141 feet of beach with overwash nearly 300 feet inland, underscoring erosion intensified by higher seas.

Overview

  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore reports 363 truckloads of debris removed as of Tuesday, up from just over 140 by Sunday, with public warnings to avoid hazardous areas.
  • Nine homes fell last week — eight in Buxton and one in Rodanthe — and officials note 10 collapses over a 17‑day span that began Sept. 16.
  • County crews, Park Service staff and private contractors are expediting debris hauling and property decertifications before forecast king tides and another coastal system.
  • Researchers using drones and lidar measured an average 68‑foot shoreline retreat in Buxton, with localized losses up to 141 feet and overwash reaching 298 feet inland.
  • Dare County approved beach nourishment and a jetty repair for 2026, while coastal scientists caution such measures may shift erosion and require frequent, large sand placements.