Two homes on the North Carolina Outer Banks sit precariously in the high waves with their days seemingly numbered. Since 2020, 11 neighboring homes have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean.

While the swells from storms like Hurricane Erin make things worse, the conditions threatening the houses are always present — beach erosion and climate change are sending the ocean closer and closer to their front doors.

The two houses in the surf in Rodanthe have received plenty of attention as Erin passes several hundred miles to the east. The village of about 200 people sticks out further into the Atlantic than any other part of North Carolina.

Jan Richards looked at the houses Tuesday as high tides sent surges of water into the support beams on the two-story homes. She gestured where two other houses

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