RODANTHE, N.C. — Cleanup is still ongoing along the Cape Hatteras shore after a house crumbled into the ocean Monday.
What You Need To Know
A one-story home, on East Point Drive in Rodanthe along Cape Hatteras, collapsed Monday. No one was hurt and no one was inside at the time
The collapse left dangerous debris in its wake and national park officials warn visitors to be careful as they go for walks
Cleanup crews have collected more than 40 trucks of debris since the collapse
A one-story home, valued at about $400,000, on East Point Drive in Rodanthe gave way as the waves kept pawing at it, and officials with the Cape Hatteras Seashore National Park say the house was unoccupied when it fell, and no one was hurt.
Still, the collapse left dangerous debris in its wake, some of which has been found 21 miles away from the property. Nails, broken glass and other sharp materials from the house were set adrift, and cleanup crews have been out, scouring the area. Officials continue to ask that beachgoers steer clear of the area while it's being cleaned up.
A volunteer group finished up Thursday about 2 p.m., and two dumptrucks of debris were collected by park services in addition to the 42 truckloads of trash and debris gathered on Tuesday when 40 members with the National Park Service staff started their cleanup effort.
Boone Vandzura, chief ranger with Cape Hatteras National Seashore, says they are frustrated because they’ve contacted homeowners in the area after the first home fell last February to put a plan in place to protect their homes and the beach.
“You look out over the beach, and you’re like, 'Oh, OK,' do you know what I mean, not bad, meaning there’s not big 2x4s, but then once you kind of come up and look. And people, we’ve already collected things, but then you’re like, 'Oh, wow look at this, pieces of drywall, you know and sand fencing … it's disappointing homeowners would allow that to happen when we reached out to them for such a long time."
James Morgan lives a street over from the home that fell and says when he bought his home a year ago, he never expected the beach to erode so quickly. Although his home is on the second row near the beach, he says he’s considering options before his house is in danger.
“You have an investment you’re trying to protect, you know? I would hope they could find some kind of funding or something. I feel bad for these people who are losing their houses, and there’s going to be more," Morgan said.
The parks service is warning Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors to use caution while walking on the beach as cleanup efforts continue.