Dr. Scott Towantyman and Dr. Cindy Dauty purchased a three-story beach house in Rodanthe, North Carolina, back in 2002. At that time, they weren’t concerned about extreme weather or beach erosion.
“Honestly, it didn’t even cross our minds,” Dr. Towantyman recalled, acknowledging that those thoughts weren’t part of their considerations.
However, as time went on, the erosion became alarming—estimated at around 13 feet a year—which jeopardized their beloved home. Faced with such dire circumstances, they felt it necessary to act, but they weren’t ready to abandon their house.
The perfect storm
In 2019, witnessing some of their neighbors’ homes tumble into the Atlantic Ocean due to three Nor’easters and Hurricane Dorian became a wake-up call.
“When one house fell, part of my neighbor’s stake crashed through my back door, and suddenly there was two feet of water inside,” Dauty recalled, shaking her head. “It was surreal.”
They knew immediate action was required.
“There was no doubt; we had to move the house,” Dr. Towantyman explained. “We really had no choice.”
Listing the house felt risky, especially since they feared a low offer, knowing its precarious situation.
“I just couldn’t bear selling it, realizing I might never find another place like it,” he admitted.
Dauty added, “You can’t replicate that view. It’s something unique.”
So, the solution? Relocating the house! Luckily, they owned a double lot, making this option feasible.
“If we didn’t, we would have seen developments all over Hatteras Island, leaving no open land to move it to,” he noted.
Price to save their home
The couple chose to position their house 100 feet inland from the eroded area. It wasn’t a cheap endeavor, though.
They learned the hard way that insurance often avoids covering costs related to preventive action, like moving a house, only offering help once a disaster has struck.
“The insurance company essentially said your house has to go into the ocean before you can claim anything,” Dr. Towantyman lamented.
To save their home, they had to take out home equity loans on another property they owned to facilitate the move.
“We went with a company called Expert House Movers, which certainly lived up to its name,” Dr. Towantyman remarked.
Interestingly, another historic structure in the area faced relocation too, moving 2,900 feet away due to similar erosion issues. Knowing they were in good hands gave the couple solid reassurance.
Time was of the essence
Preparing for the move required them to remove the first floor, which included the entrance and laundry area, to support the house properly.
Caught in the hurricane season, every moment counted.
“If the house goes, we lose everything on that property. It was a total loss for us,” Dr. Towantyman pointed out urgently.
Months flew by while they wrestled with permit approvals and construction, heightening their stress levels.
“It was quite overwhelming,” Dauty admitted.
But surprisingly, the actual relocation only took about 20 minutes.
“I was honestly shocked by how quick it all happened,” Dauty shared, still reflecting on that day.
Big movement
To their astonishment, they didn’t need to remove anything from inside the house ahead of time.
“We thought we might need to clear out all the belongings, even the glassware,” she recalled, “but the movers reassured us it was unnecessary.”
That night, despite a fierce storm, nature calmed just enough to allow the house to be moved.
“It went eerily silent; the winds died down and then it was just still,” Dauty recounted. “I still get chills thinking about that moment.”
Following the move, the house was no longer resting on sand but instead on solid bedrock, which provided them with peace of mind during stormy weather.
No second thoughts
Looking back, the couple feels no regrets about relocating their home, and they encourage others in coastal areas to consider doing the same.
“It was a significant leap of faith, but it was worth it,” Dauty concluded. “We both have such a strong emotional connection to this place. Losing it wasn’t an option for us.”
The experience, although stressful, actually deepened their bond as a couple.
