A total of four homes on the coast of the Outer Banks in eastern North Carolina have collapsed into the ocean after a winter storm brought harsh winds and heavy surf.
The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed Monday that two private houses had fallen overnight while unoccupied, and that a third was destroyed in the morning in the coastal Outer Banks village of Buxton, North Carolina, WTKR3 reported. All in all, four homes have been destroyed since the storm ripped through. Footage obtained by WRAL captures one of the homes collapsing. (RELATED: US Region Already Buried By Snow Set To Deal With Multiple New Rounds, Late-Week Storm)
Over the weekend, Winter Storm Gianna dumped record snow levels on parts of North Carolina, according to The Charlotte Observer. Some coastal areas were blanketed by up to 18 inches of snow. The storm, of course, brought fierce wind gusts and high surf that wiped away beachside homes that were propped up on stilts.
Since 2020, a total of 31 privately-owned coastal homes have been destroyed across the Outer Banks, most in Buxton and Rodanthe. Six homes collapsed in just one day in September 2025, the NPS said. Officials said rising sea levels and beach erosion played a role in bringing down the homes. (RELATED: Crazy Video Shows Bridge Collapse In North Carolina As ‘No Name’ Storm Terrorizes Coastline)
BUXTON, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 05: A beach front home is shown moved back on its lot on September 5, 2019 in Buxton, North Carolina. Dorian returned to Category 3 strength as it made its way up the U.S. East Coast, unleashing flooding, high winds and tornadoes, according to published reports. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Officials are also warning residents and beachgoers of home debris, including broken wood, shards of metal and nails.
“Cape Hatteras National Seashore advises everyone to stay away from the collapse sites and the surrounding beach area, due to potentially hazardous debris. The beach is closed in front of the entire village of Buxton,” the park stated.