(The Center Square) – Concern for loss of beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina has been renewed by the state insurance commissioner.
Third-term Republican Mike Causey on Tuesday was in Dare County, expressing shock and using the descriptor of “urgent crisis” following brushes by the Oct. 11-14 major nor’easter, the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 combination of Hurricane Imelda and Hurricane Humberto, the Aug. 20-21 kiss from Hurricane Erin and the July 6 touch by Tropical Storm Chantal.
Since the middle of September, 11 vacation houses built tantalizingly close to the shoreline decades ago have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean. That makes 22 since 2020.
“This is a complex issue that needs urgent focus from elected officials across multiple jurisdictions,” Causey said. “I am urging our congressional delegation to see what remedies we can employ to help the residents of the Outer Banks affected by this crisis. The loss of beachfront over the past few weeks has been astounding.”
The 3rd Congressional District is the territory of U.S. Rep. Dr. Greg Murphy. He had no crystal ball on May 1 when filing the Preventing Environmental Hazards Act of 2025, known also as House Resolution 3161.
It’s been parked in the Committee on Financial Service since. And the House is without scheduled activity amid the ongoing government shutdown. Reps. David Rouzer, R-N.C., Don Davis, D-N.C., Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, are cosponsors.
Murphy says, “These disasters could be prevented, but homeowners cannot receive compensation from the National Flood Insurance Program until after their home is destroyed. Proactively condemning and demolishing properties will better serve eligible beneficiaries, improve public safety, save taxpayer dollars, and protect the surrounding environment. This legislation would give at-risk homeowners greater flexibility to protect their livelihoods while preserving North Carolina’s beautiful coastline.”
Murphy said seven houses fell into the Atlantic last year prior to his bill filing. Five key areas, Murphy says, are proposed in the legislation.
• Authorizes flood program payouts for structures condemned due to chronic erosion or unusual flooding.
• Allows advance payouts for demolition or relocation: up to 40% of the home’s value up to $250,000.
• Limits payouts to 40% if owners neglect to act before a collapse.
• Reduces confusion in attributing damage to specific floods.
• Encourages proactive demolition or relocation to prevent collapses and reduce cleanup costs and environmental hazards.
“It was an eye opener and shock to see first-hand the number of homes that have collapsed into the ocean, and the ones on the brink of collapse,” Causey said. “This is an urgent crisis and should be concerning to every resident of North Carolina, due to the economic impact it has to our state, especially the Outer Banks.”
