RODANTHE, N.C. — The public was invited to participate in an organized volunteer cleanup effort on the beach in Rodanthe where a house collapsed on Monday.
The National Park Service (NPS) staff and Cape Hatteras National Seashore organized the cleanup project.
A News 3 crew went to Rodanthe again on Thursday as volunteers picked up pieces of wood and drywall that came from a one-story home that collapsed near East Point Drive.
"The horror is that this is the Cape Hatteras National Seashore," said Salvo resident John Havel, "and it advertises itself as one of the most beautiful, cleanest beaches and it is! We live here. We know it, but when you have insulation, drywall, carpeting, all of these things – not to talk about things like septic waste and other things that are being distributed along the beaches - it’s a horrific problem."
On Tuesday, the Seashore said the debris had migrated as far as 21 miles from the collapse site.
Boone Vandzura, Chief Ranger with Cape Hatteras National Seashore said they notified the homeowners over a year ago and National Park Service is working with other agencies to remedy the complicated issue.
“Whether they move their house off the beach, tear it down, repair it, but clearly the house collapsing and littering the national seashore and potentially our visitors or injuring our wildlife, clearly that’s not a good decision,” stated Vandzura who added that ultimately, cleanup will be the financial responsibility of the homeowner.
RELATED: Rodanthe home falls into ocean, marking 4th collapse in nearly a year
Anyone interested in doing their own cleanup should be cautious of exposed nails and encouraged to wear thick-soled footwear.
Individuals who plan to clean the beach either before or after these events should place garbage bags and debris well above the high tide line to ensure the items don’t get washed back into the ocean.
This video was edited by photojournalist Stefan Grimsley.
