Dare County’s debris removal contractor will begin collecting storm debris in Buxton on Wednesday, October 8, as part of an expedited cleanup operation following the recent offshore storms that led to the collapse of eight oceanfront houses in the area.
The contractor is expected to continue debris collection for one to two additional days if needed, but officials say the schedule has been accelerated due to a new round of inclement weather expected this weekend.
County Manager Bobby Outten said the debris operation is being fast-tracked because of the approaching weather system. He explained that crews are working to remove the large volume of debris before deteriorating conditions make the process more difficult or scatter the material further.
Property owners affected by the collapses have been instructed to ensure that debris from their homes is moved to the designated right-of-way along Old Lighthouse Road no later than Wednesday morning so that the county’s contractor can safely and efficiently collect it.
Homeowners are responsible for hiring private contractors to haul debris from their property to the right-of-way, while Dare County handles transportation and disposal once the debris is placed in the collection area.
Cleanup operations on the beach itself have already made significant progress. As of October 5, approximately 140 truckloads of debris had been removed from Buxton beaches since cleanup began late last week, according to Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS).
Crews have cleared multiple large piles of wood, household items, construction material, and other debris that were deposited along the shoreline when the homes collapsed during last week’s prolonged coastal storm event.
The debris field in Buxton has been concentrated within a relatively compact stretch of shoreline near the Old Lighthouse Road neighborhood because the houses were closely spaced together. By contrast, debris from a separate Rodanthe home collapse on October 3 has spread over an estimated 18 miles of beach due to the more open landscape in that area.
CHNS officials noted last week that removal efforts in Buxton are progressing steadily but are expected to take time because of the volume and shifting sand that continues to uncover buried debris.
Outten told commissioners that the cleanup timeline is closely tied to the forecast.
Beach cleanup operations by CHNS and partner organizations are continuing concurrently with the county’s debris removal effort. National Park Service staff, private contractors, and experienced volunteers from groups like the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) and Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) have been working since last week to collect debris along the shoreline south of the collapse sites toward Cape Point. The removal effort has involved both heavy equipment and manual labor.
Residents and visitors are being urged to avoid the cleanup areas for safety reasons. Petroleum odors and sheen have also been reported near portions of the former Buxton Naval Facility site, where debris has accumulated, prompting additional caution advisories.
There have now been 20 home collapses on Hatteras Island since 2020, including six in Rodanthe in 2024, and 10 since September 16, 2025. County and park officials said that with hundreds of tons of debris already removed and more scheduled for pickup this week, coordination among property owners, contractors, and agencies is key to completing the cleanup efficiently ahead of worsening weather.
The post Dare County to begin debris removal in Buxton on Wednesday appeared first on Island Free Press.
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