Hurricane Erin’s storm surge begins to impact North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Hurricane Erin on Tuesday churned along the East Coast and sent ocean water over roads on some islands in the Outer Banks. It’s the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The flooding is expected to intensify during high tide and worsen during the new moon on Saturday. The hurricane had weakened to a Category 2 by Tuesday and was expected to stay well away from the coast, though winds could intensify. It’s forecasted to send 15-20 foot waves and wind gusts of up to 30 mph to the islands. North Carolina’s Dare County, which includes part of the Outer Banks, issued a mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island on Sunday afternoon.

Are people staying in the Outer Banks? Residents Evan Auguston and Jessica Coblentz told WORLD that most locals they know are staying. They’re preparing to be stranded on their respective islands for a few days to weeks if the roads are flooded or damaged. Another resident, Marta Martinez, is buying extra groceries because her son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren will stay with her during the storm since her house is on high ground.

What about tourists? When the evacuation order came, vehicles registered outside of North Carolina could be seen loaded down and lined up at gas stations. Since the evacuation order is mandatory, many will get their money back on their rentals, one resident told WORLD. Andrew Tucker owns a coffee shop on the island and told WORLD that losing part of the last week of tourist season will cost him financially, but added public safety is a higher priority.