Five oceanfront homes collapsed Tuesday afternoon in Buxton, North Carolina, within an hour of high tide at 2:15 p.m., according to the Island Free Press.
As Hurricane Imelda and Humberto continue to generate swells in the Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands, further damage to oceanfront homes could happen in Rodanthe and northern Buxton. Due to reported debris and threatened structures, the public has been advised to stay away from each area’s shorelines, in particular Buxton, per the Island Free Press. (RELATED: Tropical Storm Imelda Strengthens Into Hurricane Ahead Of Potential Rare Merge With Humberto)
There have been reports of ocean overreach on N.C. Highway 12 in the areas of northern Buxton, northern Ocracoke Island and north of Hatteras Village, according to the outlet. The roadway is being cleared by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), however, drivers should exercise caution.
Due to ocean overreach, the northern Ocracoke Island portion of N.C. Highway 12 is closed, with the closure potentially remaining in place until Thursday.
Hurricane Imelda developed off the southeastern coast of the United States, triggering a Hurricane Warning for Bermuda.
U.S. will have their own impacts. While no landfall, Florida up to New England will experience deadly rip currents.
Here’s my latest: https://t.co/Y6ec42rNnv pic.twitter.com/keXlIL9zH7
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) September 30, 2025
The five house collapses Tuesday now bring Buxton to six total oceanfront homes that have collapsed in the last two weeks. The other Buxton house collapsed Sept. 16, according to the Island Free Press.
Since 2020, Hatteras Island has had 17 houses collapse, per the outlet.
Visitors to the area should avoid Rodanthe’s north end due to at-risk oceanfront structures.