Cleanup underway after eight Outer Banks homes collapse
AGREEMENT INCLUDES ALL DUKE
HEALTH LOCATIONS AND PROVIDERS.
RIGHT NOW. CLEANUP IS UNDERWAY
AFTER 8 HOMES FELL INTO THE
OCEAN AND BUXTON THIS WEEK.
LOOK AT THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT
OF DEBRIS LEFT BEHIND FROM ALL
THOSE HOMES COLLAPSING.
>> PROPERTY OWNERS AND FEDERAL
CREWS ARE JUST BEGINNING THE
CLEANUP PROCESS. WRAL'S CLIMATE
CHANGE REPORTER LIZ MCLAUGHLIN
IS ON THE OUTER BANKS WITH A
CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT
BEHIND.
>> ERIN RODANTHE HOMES ARE
TEETERING ON THE EDGE.
OFFICIALS TELLING ME THIS ONE
BEHIND ME COULD GO AT ANY
MOMENT. YOU COULD SEE THE
PILINGS MISSING THERE AND
BECAUSE OF RISING SEA LEVELS
AND EROSION RATES. IT'S NOT A
MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN HOMES IN
THESE VULNERABLE AREAS WILL
FALL.
>> ON THE SAND IN BUXTON THE
WRECKAGE STRETCHES FOR
MILES OURSELVES TO SEE WAS HERE
ON VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY.
WHEN THE LATEST HOME CRUMBLED
INTO THE SURF.
>> AND WE'RE HERE 24 HOURS AGO
WHEN THE BUILDING RIGHT HERE
NOW THE SHORELINE LOOKS MORE
LIKE A LANDFILL LITTERED WITH
PROPANE TANKS, FURNITURE,
INSULATION, EVEN SEPTIC
SYSTEMS. EVERY DAY. EVERY WAVE.
JUST AMAZING HOW MUCH POWER IS
BEHIND IT. AND
YOU KNOW, YOU APPRECIATE WHAT
MAJOR U.S. NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE STAFF WERE ON THE
SCENE, ASSESSING THE DEBRIS,
WORKING THROUGH THE FEDERAL
SHUTDOWN. CREWS ARE HAULING
OUT LARGE ITEMS. FIRST, THEN
WE'LL SIFT THROUGH THE SAND FOR
SMALLER HAZARDS LIKE NAILS THAT
PAINSTAKING PROCESS COULD TAKE
MONTHS WHILE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT COULD LAST MUCH LONGER.
>> PARTICULARLY THINKING ABOUT
THE INSULATION, SOME OF THE
PLASTICS, HOW THAT GETS INTO
THE SANDS. SO I MEAN, THAT
ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO TAKE
YEARS AND YEARS. AND IN SOME
OF THIS WILL COME OUT OF THE
OCEAN. I SPOKE WITH READ
CORBETT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE COASTAL STUDIES
INSTITUTE WHO SAYS THIS
SITUATION HAS BEEN DECADES IN
THE MAKING BOX THAT WAS ERODING
AND 10 TO 15 PER TEAM PER YEAR.
YOU ADD A FOOT OF SEA LEVEL ON
TOP OF THAT WITH THE STORM LIKE
THIS.
>> THIS IS REALITY THAT WE NEED
TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND.
THOSE CHANGES ARE TURNING
LONG-TERM WARNINGS INTO URGENT
DECISIONS FOR COASTAL
COMMUNITIES. REALLY
DISINCENTIVIZE ING DEVELOPMENT
ON THE FRONT LINES,
INCENTIVIZING BACKING OFF THOSE
FRONT LINES. THOSE ARE THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TODAY.
NOT WAITING FOR AN EVENT LIKE
WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN BUXTON.
>> OFFICIALS WARN COLLAPSES
HERE ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE.
AND WITH KING TIDES IN THE
FORECAST NEXT WEEK, THESE COULD
BE THE NEXT TO GO IN RODANTHE.