Cape Hatteras National Seashore

A person died in a water-related incident near Hatteras beach in Virginia. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials reported the incident, and despite efforts by the National Park Service, the individual did not survive.

Billy Mitchell Airport will close from August 17 until mid-November for runway rehabilitation. The closure was moved up from the originally announced September 8 due to an accelerated construction schedule.

A small section of the beach in Buxton, Dare Co., will close temporarily starting Aug. 3 as Cape Hatteras National Seashore prepares to repair a groin near the former location. The closure is part of a beach replenishment project covered by WAVY in June 2026.

North Carolina lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 1009 to repeal a decades-old ban on hardened coastal structures like jetties and seawalls. The bill aims to address increased coastal erosion and property threats, with the Coastal Resources Commission tasked with regulating future structures. Critics raised concerns about erosion trade-offs and the effectiveness of alternatives like beach nourishment.

North Carolina lawmakers are considering modifying a decades-old ban on seawalls due to increased coastal erosion causing home collapses. Senator Bob Brinson introduced two bills to allow hardened structures and pilot shoreline stabilization projects, while Senator Julie Mayfield warned of potential negative impacts from such structures.