Cape Hatteras National Seashore reopens portion of beach after house collapse in Outer Banks

MANTEO, N.C. (WNCN) — After two days of debris cleanup following a house collapse, Cape Hatteras National Seashore has reopened about seven-tenths of a mile in front of Rodanthe Village.

The current beach closure is now about a quarter of a mile, between S. Holiday Boulevard to the north end of Ocean Drive in Rodanthe.

Early Tuesday morning, the Seashore responded to an unoccupied house collapse in the 20000 block of Ocean Drive. Over the last couple of days, dozens of employees, with assistance from volunteers and debris removal contractors, have worked to remove the home’s debris across several miles of the beach.

By gathering a large group of employees soon after the house collapse, Seashore officials said they hope that this incident creates fewer long-term impacts on the beach than other collapses in recent years.

Visitors of the beach should consider wearing hard-sole shoes and remain cautious on the beach and water in front of the Rodanthe as debris continues to wash on to shore.

The Seashore is planning to use heavy equipment on Thursday to rake up smaller debris near the north of the house collapse site.