Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines

04/07/2026

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09/30/2025

NEWS RELEASE: Five unoccupied houses collapse in Buxton; very hazardous conditions are expected to continue over the next 24 hours and visitors should stay away from closed areas.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) was notified this afternoon that five unoccupied houses have collapsed in Buxton, North Carolina. Seashore visitors are urged to stay away from the collapsed house sites and to use caution for miles to the south of the sites, due to the presence of potentially hazardous debris. This is an ongoing incident; further collapses are possible due to the ocean conditions.

As of 3:30 p.m., the Seashore is aware of the following house collapses in Buxton:
•46001 Cottage Avenue
•46002 Cottage Avenue
•46007 Cottage Avenue
•46209 Tower Circle Road
•46211 Tower Circle Road

The collapses occurred between approximately 2 and 2:45 p.m. The Seashore is not aware of any bodily injuries associated with the five house collapses.

The entire beachfront, from northern Buxton through off-road vehicle (ORV) ramp 43, is closed for public safety. ORV drivers using ramps 38 should avoid traveling to the south and anyone using ramp 43 should avoid traveling north.

If additional collapses occur during the current storm period, they will be announced on the Seashore’s threatened oceanfront structures webpage at: http://go.nps.gov/cahatos.

📸Photo of collapsed house at 46007 Cottage Avenue, Buxton.

08/28/2025

05/07/2025

Cool poster from NOAA.

🌀 With hurricane seasons starting in the Atlantic on June 1 and in the Pacific on May 15, check out NCEI’s new informative poster on hurricane strikes in the United States from 1950-2024! Using GOES-16 enhanced images and NEXRAD radar data, our scientists collected images and details on all hurricane strikes of 2024.

⛈️Visit NOAA’s Hurricane Preparedness page for more information. Remember, it only takes one storm! https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep

05/07/2025

🌀 With hurricane seasons starting in the Atlantic on June 1 and in the Pacific on May 15, check out NCEI’s new informative poster on hurricane strikes in the United States from 1950-2024! Using GOES-16 enhanced images and NEXRAD radar data, our scientists collected images and details on all hurricane strikes of 2024.

⛈️Visit NOAA’s Hurricane Preparedness page for more information. Remember, it only takes one storm! https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep

12/18/2024

An eminent geologist, he argued against putting condos and hotels on vulnerable coastal landscapes. Environmentalists applauded; many others didn’t.

12/18/2024

“Pilkey [was] a short, square hobbit of a man, with an unruly gray beard and a disarming sense of humor. Depending on your point of view, he [was] either a prophet or the antichrist of the coast.”

"With Orrin, the stories never stopped," writes author and Coastal Review contributor Gilbert M. Gaul of the acclaimed Duke University scientist who died Sunday. "Some of them were even true."

12/18/2024

Thank you for everything Orrin. We continue your mission.

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 -- An eminent Duke University geologist, led effort to move Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and argued against putting condos and hotels on vulnerable coastal landscapes. Environmentalists applauded; many others didn't.

10/14/2024

River channel changes from Hurricane Helene in Bat Cave & Chimney Rock

10/10/2024

PSDS has completed preliminary Hurricane Helene flood damage estimations for Bat Cave to Chimney Rock Village using NOAA post-storm imagery.

At least 71 structures were destroyed or severely damaged.

57 of the 99 structures in a FEMA high/moderate flood zones were destroyed or severely damaged.

14 of the destroyed or severely damaged structures were in a minimal hazard flood zones (all the rest were in the moderate or high hazard zone)

See more figures here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hQ2obEIEfngRNtVanipxGcy8h7Z6lCRc/view?usp=drive_link

10/09/2024