If you’ve booked a beach house in certain areas of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, take note. Ahead of Hurrican Erin moving toward the coast, emergency management officials have declared a state of emergency for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. And they have also issued mandatory evacuations.
Dare County officials said a coastal flood watch was issued for Hatteras. The watch “indicates that extreme beach and coastal damage is likely along the oceanside, resulting in a significant threat to life and property. Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures. Severe flooding will likely extend inland where there is vulnerable or no protective dune structure flooding homes and businesses with some structural damage possible.”
Coastal flooding was expected to begin as early as Tuesday, August 19, and continue through Thursday, August 21. The agency warns that portions of N.C. Highway 12 on Hatteras Island will likely be impassable for several days.
A mandatory evacuation was also issued for all of Hatteras Island. This includes the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. All visitors in these areas must evacuate beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 18. All residents must evacuate beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19.
Hyde County also enacted a state of emergency for Ocracoke Island. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for visitors starting at 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 17. Resident evacuations start at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19. County officials warn that, “Life-threatening swimming and surfing conditions are expected. Rip current risks will be extremely high! Stay out of the water!”
The National Hurricane Center reports that Erin is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along Bermuda, the Bahamas, and much of the U.S. east coast during the next several days.
Feature image, Spencer/stock.adobe.com
