RODANTHE, N.C. — On May 10, two unoccupied homes collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean in Rodanthe during a coastal storm.

Jenni Koontz, a photographer in Avon, was one of the very first people to capture images of the homes as they fell.

What You Need To Know

  • Two unoccupied homes in Rodanthe collapsed into the Atlantic on May 10 during a nor'easter

  • Jenni Koontz is a photojournalist working capturing events on Hatteras Island

  • Koontz's photos of the homes collapsing in Rodanthe have been shared over 35,000 times.

"I'd been watching these homes for a month and I had been documenting them, waiting for them to, you know, start falling further and further apart... when the swells start getting bigger and bigger and the waves started hitting the homes, I knew that might be the storm that's gonna take it,​" Koontz said.

Dare County officials and the National Park Service had identified the homes on Ocean Drive in Rodanthe as "at risk" for collapse when a house on the same street fell in February. They said the other homes in the area may suffer a similar fate.

"Just the power of the ocean, you know, is just really captivating to watch" Koontz said.

Jenni Koontz's photos of Rodanthe beach houses falling into the Atlantic Ocean this month went viral and were shared more than 35,000 times. (Photo: Jenni Koontz)

The pictures captivated Koontz's audience on social media, too. Since she began posting the pictures of the collapses, the photos have been shared over 35,000 times.

"The post about the houses and the storm went kinda viral. And they were speaking of great memories as a whole family and the best vacation they've ever had was in that house. You know it's heartbreaking, but it's also great to know people have such a great experience here. And they are devastated as well as we are to see these homes fall in," Koontz said.

Although this is Koontz's first viral moment, she's been taking photos professionally since 2009 when she started her business, Epic Shutter Photography, in the Baltimore area.

"In 2009, that same summer I ended up coming here and renting a house from a friend of mine and that led to me falling in love with Cape Hatteras and the ever-changing island and sand bar," Koontz said.

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She says her love of photojournalism is what made her head to the scene on Ocean Drive while access to the area was limited due to the storm.

Since the houses collapsed, the National Park Service has organized cleanup efforts for the debris, which has been found over 20 miles away on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

They say they've been in contact with other homeowners in the area to take proactive steps so that this doesn't happen again.