Hurricane Ernesto's Impact on Outer Banks Homes

An elevated beachfront home was swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean on the Outer Banks of North Carolina amid the powerful swells of Hurricane Ernesto. Although the hurricane was churning hundreds of miles offshore near Bermuda, the reports regarding the flooded beach were devastating.

It was the seventh such event on the Seashore beaches in the past four years. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the home was unoccupied and the owners rigged it last week, when they pulled out the appliances and cut power to the property. Nevertheless, the case is not the first and just proves the problem of the vulnerability of coastal properties to disasters.

Areas like Rodanthe are beautiful for their views and different places like the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, these views cost much and besides the, erosion is not the only problem provoked by the ocean. The National Park Service and local authorities warn against entering the water for dangers from rip currents to hazardous shore break to dangerous debris that extends about 12 miles long along the beach and is liable to change.

In connection to and after the event, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge staffs coordinated the cleaning and assessment efforts, which started around 1 pm on Saturday.

Compromised septic systems led to the extreme caution on the part of the authorities, and visitors were advised to avoid all water contact until the authorities verify the water quality again. These measures have been being taken not only for the public safety but also the safety of the local wildlife and the state of the environment. The collapses are not something new on the Outer Banks.

It is a part of the problem that has pushed the increasing structural vulnerabilities on the Outer Banks, from damage to various forms of the built environment, yards, pools, and houses. According to the experts, these processes will become even more frequent due to the accelerated sea level rise and coastal erosion, which is likely to boost even larger land eroding events and create another need for large stabilization efforts.

The authorities also desperately need fresh management efforts for the barrier on the Outer Banks, and most probably, it should become a mixture of different strategies from localized stabilization to making long-term decisions up to ultimately managed retreat. No less important is the problem of the broader impacts of these collapses. Not only the property owners are affected, but the local economy, which is extremely dependent on tourism, is affected as well.

Companies that manage rental properties, homeowners, and local businesses are in a constant battle with natural disasters, which bring financial uncertainties.