Overview

• An unoccupied two‑story stilt house at 46227 Tower Circle Road in Buxton fell into the surf Tuesday, scattering nail‑studded debris and prompting warnings to avoid the area and the water.
• National Park Service crews are clearing debris, and the homeowner has hired a contractor to remove the remaining structure as officials consider expanding an existing beach safety closure.
• Visitors are also urged to avoid the north end of Rodanthe, where other oceanfront houses remain threatened by surf and tides.
• The collapse is the first recorded in Buxton and the 12th since 2020 on Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with the previous 11 in Rodanthe; the site lies less than a mile from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
• Local residents and the Buxton Civic Association are pressing for a state of emergency, while a jetty rebuild and beach nourishment slated for 2026 remain months away after recent storms, including Hurricane Erin, worsened erosion and damaged homes and septic systems.