Cleanup begins on the Outer Banks after eight houses collapse into the ocean over 72 hours

BUXTON, N.C. — Cleanup has begun on the Outer Banks after eight beachfront homes collapsed into the ocean this week.

Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda both stayed well off the East Coast, but they still brought rough surf and coastal flooding to the Outer Banks. It was enough to bring down multiple homes in Buxton: eight fell over a period of just 72 hours.

All of those homes were vacant when they fell, and no one was hurt.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore says cleanup is beginning on Friday, but people who live nearby worry that too much debris has already been swept out to sea.

"You're going to see pylons go through boats… it's a pretty big environmental hazard,” said resident Travis Morris. “We use Bobcats, excavators, basically anything with a tread that can move sand will be utilized