Video Shows Houses Collapsing Into the Ocean as North Carolina's Coastline Erodes

Two houses in the Outer Banks of North Carolina fell into the ocean on Tuesday after a storm. A person collapsed in the early hours of the morning. The other fell in the afternoon. The houses were located on the same stretch of beach and on the same street. The destruction is a stark reminder of the conflict between human infrastructure and rising seas.

Barrier islands are meant to change with the tides. They provide a natural form of boosted resilience for the mainland. Barrier islands are considered to be desirable places to build beach-front rental properties. The problem with that is on full view in the National Park Service's Flickr account, which features multiple videos and pictures of yesterday's damage.

The buildings in the Outer Banks have collapsed before. According to The Outer Banks Voice, the National Park Service warned that 11 other homes were in imminent danger after a house fell in the same area in February. Building relocations are common along the 200 mile stretch of barrier islands. The National Park Service moved a light house almost 3000 feet away from the water in 1999.

The only road connecting most of the Outer Banks to the rest of North Carolina is prone to washouts, sand, and debris due to weather and tides. The highway is closed as of Wednesday afternoon.

For changeable and exposed barrier islands, high tides and storms are a regular occurrence. Climate change is making them worse. The sea level rise along Cape Hatteras National Seashore is increasing every year. According to The New York Times, some beaches are losing more than 14 feet annually.

The National Park Service believes that the Outer Banks will experience the most sea level rise. The barrier island system south of the Wright Brothers Memorial would be completely destroyed by storm surge by the year 2050. According to a report by the National Park Service, Cape Hatteras National Seashore could experience more than 2.5 feet of additional sea level rise by the year 2200. Hurricane season is starting earlier because of climate change, as hurricanes are dumping more water and becoming stronger.

The issue of human infrastructure is making erosion worse. Hard structures like jetties have been banned in the Outer Banks for decades because they can cause more land loss elsewhere. Infrastructure still takes a toll on existing buildings.

The Outer Banks is more than just a vacation destination. There are more than 35,000 people on the barrier islands. Management and environmental policies have been a point of contention for decades in local communities. Building collapses like this show how easy it is to wash away. The beaches near the felled houses are closed for clean up.