Overview

• An unoccupied stilt home at 46227 Tower Circle Road in Buxton fell into the ocean on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the first collapse of 2025 and the 12th along the seashore since 2020, according to the National Park Service.
• Officials urged people to stay off the beach and out of the water near the site and said a pre‑existing safety closure north of Buxton may be expanded depending on the debris field.
• Seashore crews worked Wednesday to clear debris south of the site as the homeowner’s contractor began removing the remaining structure and nearby wreckage, the park spokesman said.
• The NPS attributes the collapses to ongoing shoreline retreat that has left some houses in the intertidal zone, with a recent coastal storm reported to have increased vulnerability in the Outer Banks.
• Authorities continue to monitor threatened homes in Buxton and Rodanthe, encourage relocations, and pursue limited property buyouts using federal funds, while local leaders in Buxton press for emergency measures and note shoreline reinforcement projects planned for 2026.