Category 2 storm led to evacuation orders and road closures, with rip currents and high surf forecast on Friday
Category 2 storm led to evacuation orders and road closures, with rip currents and high surf forecast on Friday
Hurricane Erin, a large category 2 storm with winds reaching 105mph, was slowly moving away from the North Carolina coast on Thursday morning after hitting the state’s Outer Banks with intense winds, large waves, storm surge and flooding.
While Erin is not expected to make landfall, weather officials warn that the storm’s effects are not over yet. Coastal communities up and down the east coast are bracing as storm conditions continue as life-threatening rip currents, flooding and dangerous surf, are forecast in some areas through Friday.
On Wednesday, North Carolina’s governor, Josh Stein, declared a state of emergency, deploying emergency resources and personnel to assist coastal communities.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued both for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, with more than 2,000 people evacuated.
By Wednesday evening, Highway 12 on Hatteras Island was closed due to worsening weather conditions.
