Rodanthe Homeowners Grapple with Erosion Costs as Homes Wash Away

An unoccupied home in Rodanthe, North Carolina, has been lost to the Atlantic Ocean, marking a troubling trend on a coastline severely affected by erosion. The incident occurred over the weekend, adding to the growing concern among residents as this marks the seventh home to succumb to rising surf in just four years, all of which have fallen in the same area.

Community Impact

Local resident Gus Gusler, who lives nearby, expressed a mix of fear and frustration. He remarked, “It’s scary and it’s kind of depressing too,” referring to the destructive force of the waves that have now washed several homes into the sea. The recent collapse has forced him to cancel his rental bookings for the next two weeks due to debris washing up on the beach.

Gusler is not alone in his concerns; the community is increasingly feeling a sense of urgency to move homes further inland. Unfortunately, the financial burden is significant. He noted that some homeowners have spent as much as $350,000 to relocate their houses away from the encroaching waters, while many more remain vulnerable. “You’re on your own,” he lamented, emphasizing the lack of support in the face of such escalating costs.

The Challenge of Erosion

Rodanthe is facing an alarming erosion rate of over 15 feet per year, a statistic detailed in a May 2023 study presented to local officials. These figures paint a bleak picture for the community, with some residents fearing that the island itself could wash away if proactive measures are not taken.

Looking for Solutions

Efforts to initiate a beach renourishment project are ongoing, with hopes that it will provide some protection. However, Dare County planning director Noah Gillam stated that funding has been elusive. “We’ve been pursuing funding, but we haven’t been able to find it yet,” he explained, indicating that this lack of financial resources complicates any potential solution.

As discussions continue, some experts have suggested that investing in home buyouts may provide a long-term solution. Dr. Reide Corbett, director of Integrated Coastal Programs at East Carolina University, pointed out that a beach nourishment initiative could cost approximately $30 million, but there’s potential value in relocating vulnerable properties instead. “If you take that money and buy out the vulnerable houses, you would buy yourself about 20 years of space to allow that erosion to take place,” he stated.

A Call to Action

Despite the urgent need for action, county leaders have cited financial constraints as a barrier, noting that the tax base in Rodanthe is not robust enough to support long-term beach nourishment efforts. “So far, we just haven’t met any of the qualifying characteristics of the applications when applying,” Gillam explained.

As residents like Gusler make plans to move their homes further from the shore, optimism lingers amidst uncertainty. He hopes to relocate his home approximately 136 feet away from the water after January 1, 2025, in hopes of safeguarding the community’s rich history and protecting against future storms.

“I wonder if, at some point in time, that whole island is going to wash away,” Gusler mused, highlighting a balance between hope and the harsh realities of climate change.