Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert L. “Bob” Woodard Sr. has issued an urgent call for statewide assistance to address rapidly worsening coastal erosion and infrastructure vulnerabilities along portions of Hatteras Island. In a letter mailed last week to every member of the North Carolina General Assembly, Woodard outlined the unprecedented challenges now facing Buxton and Rodanthe, where severe erosion has led to repeated structural failures and increasing threats to public safety, the environment, and the region’s economic base.
“For generations, Dare County has been defined by its pristine beaches and breathtaking coastal landscapes—natural treasures that draw millions of visitors each year and serve as the foundation of our economy and way of life,” Woodard said. “Today, small areas of our oceanfront have deteriorated to the point where we can no longer shoulder these challenges alone. We need help—your help.”
Key Concerns
Woodard’s letter highlights several urgent issues:
- Severe erosion in Buxton and Rodanthe, resulting in repeated home collapses and unsafe conditions.
- Increasing vulnerability of N.C. Highway 12, the sole transportation lifeline for Hatteras Island, which frequently closes during even minor storms—disrupting residents, visitors, businesses, and emergency services.
- Expanded pressure on local resources, despite Dare County and its oceanfront municipalities having invested more than $275 million in beach nourishment and millions more in maintaining navigable inlets, largely without state or federal funding.
Woodard noted that more than 3 million people visit Dare County’s beaches and national parks each year, generating substantial state tax revenue. Dare County remains one of the few “donor counties” in North Carolina—contributing more to state coffers than it receives.
Requests to State Lawmakers
The letter urges the General Assembly to act on several fronts:
- Fund the State Beach Nourishment Fund. Although established by the legislature, the fund has never been capitalized. Woodard requested recurring appropriations to help coastal counties sustain critical shoreline-protection projects.
- Advance long-term solutions for N.C. Highway 12. Woodard called on lawmakers to support strategies developed by the multi-agency N.C. 12 Task Force, which includes Dare County, Hyde County, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern Environmental Law Center, and NCDOT. The full report is available at DareNC.gov/NC12.
- Reconsider the statewide ban on hardened structures. With beach nourishment alone no longer sufficient in certain hotspots, Woodard asked legislators to lift prohibitions on tools such as groins to help stabilize vulnerable stretches of shoreline.
A Statewide Priority
Woodard emphasized that protecting Dare County’s coastline protects an economic engine that benefits the entire state. “With your support, we can preserve our coastline, protect public infrastructure, and sustain the economic engine that benefits all of North Carolina,” he wrote.
Woodard also offered to meet with legislators to discuss potential solutions and reiterated the county’s commitment to working collaboratively to safeguard both local communities and North Carolina’s coastal heritage.
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