Storm Prompts Mass Evacuations
Hurricane Erin is prompting residents and tourists to leave North Carolina’s Outer Banks, even though the storm is expected to remain offshore. The hurricane hit parts of the Caribbean on Monday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
Officials ordered evacuations on Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island, warning that the hurricane could create dangerous rip currents and waves reaching 15 feet (4.6 meters). Cars lined up for hours at Ocracoke’s ferry dock, the only way off the island besides flying.
Forecast and Expected Strengthening
Forecasters say Erin is likely to turn northward, steering away from the U.S. mainland. However, it is expected to intensify over the coming days, producing rough seas and tropical-force winds along the coastal islands, said Dave Roberts of the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Impact in the Caribbean
The storm reached Category 4 on Monday, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (225 kph), impacting the Turks and Caicos Islands and parts of the southeastern Bahamas. Officials on the islands suspended services and advised residents to stay home.
Current Location and Outlook
As of Monday afternoon, Erin was about 140 miles (220 kilometers) north of Grand Turk Island and 850 miles (1,370 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras. Coastal flooding is forecast to start Tuesday on the Outer Banks and continue through Thursday.
Tourist Season Complications
The evacuations come at the height of tourist season, affecting the thin, low-lying barrier islands that are particularly vulnerable to storm surges. Last year, Hurricane Ernesto remained offshore but still caused coastal damage due to high surf and swells.
