A dangerous and potentially life-threatening weather situation is unfolding across the East Coast as new Tropical Storm Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings were issued for North Carolina’s Outer Banks while Hurricane Erin moves closer to the United States. Although Erin is not projected to make landfall in the U.S., forecasters have raised concerns that the hurricane’s outer bands could bring strong tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall to parts of the North Carolina coast. Along with the wind and rain, massive waves and deadly rip currents generated by the storm are expected to batter the shoreline, creating hazardous conditions for both residents and visitors.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a Tropical Storm Warning stretching from Beaufort Inlet to Duck, North Carolina. A Tropical Storm Watch has also been placed from north of Duck to Cape Charles Light in Virginia. In addition, a Storm Surge Warning has been posted for the Outer Banks between Cape Lookout and Duck. Officials in multiple North Carolina communities declared local states of emergency and urged evacuations in anticipation of the storm’s impacts, citing the risks of flooding, road closures, and dangerous surf.
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “The State Emergency Response Team is poised and ready to respond to any needs from our local communities this week. As forecasted impacts become clearer, we will plan for the pre-positioning of any necessary resources for rapid deployment along our coast. In the meantime, all visitors and residents along the coast should follow the instructions of local emergency management officials to keep you and your family safe.”
Evacuations and Local Emergency Responses
Several counties have already initiated evacuations in response to the potential impacts. Hyde County declared a local state of emergency for Ocracoke Island, issuing a mandatory evacuation order for visitors on Sunday night followed by an order for residents on Tuesday morning. Dare County also declared a state of emergency and required evacuations across Hatteras Island, which includes the communities of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Visitors began leaving on Monday, while residents were instructed to begin evacuating on Tuesday morning.
Further south, Wrightsville Beach has been hit hard by dangerous rip currents. A spokesperson confirmed that rescue crews conducted nearly 60 water rescues on Monday alone. With conditions expected to worsen as Hurricane Erin moves closer, the town has prohibited all water activity from Tuesday through Friday. “These swells are producing powerful rip currents that can create extremely hazardous swimming conditions,” explained Sam Proffitt, director of Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue. “The safety of our beachgoers is always our top priority, and we urge everyone to follow this advisory.”
