-North Carolina braces for storm surge as evacuations ordered

Outer Banks( North Carolina ) August 21(HS): Hurricane Erin, a powerful Category 2 storm churning up the Atlantic, is lashing the US East Coast with towering waves, treacherous rip currents, and flooding threats — despite forecasts showing it will likely stay offshore.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned seas could rise as high as 30ft (9m), with conditions rapidly deteriorating along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Authorities have imposed no-swimming advisories from the Carolinas to New Jersey and Delaware, as storm surges and coastal road closures loom.

Governor Josh Stein urged immediate precautions, ordering mandatory evacuations of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. “It’s a serious storm. No one should be in the ocean,” he said, confirming National Guard units and rescue teams are on standby.

Erin already drenched Puerto Rico earlier this week, and now packs sustained winds of 105mph (168km/h). Tropical storm-force winds extend 230 miles from its core, making it one of the season’s largest storms.

Despite warnings, some residents in coastal towns are choosing to stay put, citing long experience with storms. Businesses in Nags Head reported only mild disruption so far, but officials are bracing for worsening conditions through Thursday as Erin tracks between Bermuda and the US mainland.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar