Gov. Josh Stein warned coastal residents of North Carolina to “take action now before it’s too late” Wednesday to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Erin, and to follow any evacuation orders.
Stein declared a statewide state of emergency on Tuesday in anticipation of the storm, currently a Category 2 hurricane, and local states of emergency are in effect in Dare, Hyde, and Currituck counties. In addition, residents of Ocracoke and Hatteras islands are subject to mandatory evacuation orders.
“If you are under an evacuation order, take action now before it’s too late,” Stein said Wednesday morning. “You can find shelter at the state-operated disaster shelter located at 113 Wilcox Street in Warrenton, North Carolina. Pets are allowed at the shelter.”
While the center of the hurricane is forecast to remain over the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center projects that tropical storm-force winds will hit the North Carolina coast as soon as 2 p.m., but likely closer to 8 p.m. Much of the coast is subject to a Tropical Storm Warning, with winds of up to 35 to 45 mph forecast and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph possible.
The hurricane can also generate tornadoes, and produced a minor EF0 tornado on the beach in Brunswick County on Monday. The most severe of the storm’s impacts to North Carolina are predicted to come Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Stein said.
A forecast of Hurricane Erin’s path as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Source: nhc.noaa.gov/)Emergency Management director Will Ray warned residents not to attempt to cross flooded roadways, as it is not possible to judge the speed or depth of floodwaters, which can easily be powerful enough to sweep cars off the road.
“Hurricane Erin is already creating extremely dangerous and life-threatening rip currents for all of the North Carolina coast that will linger throughout the week,” Ray said. “We’ve seen a high number of rescues along the coast, and you should avoid swimming anywhere on the North Carolina coast right now.”
Stein echoed his warning: “No one should be in the ocean,” he said.
Ray said “extremely large, dangerous waves” around 20 feet high are anticipated to hit the coast as well as a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet on top of the surf. Coastal roadways in particular will likely be inundated and made impassable, especially N.C. Highway 12 and along the Outer Banks. Beaches could also see significant erosion, the officials said.
Residents can monitor the status of roads and highways on drivenc.gov, but should avoid driving through any flooding even if not reflected on the website. For information on storm conditions, evacuations, and related weather events, information is available at readync.gov/Erin.
The state has mobilized 200 members of the North Carolina National Guard and has positioned three swift water rescue teams, trained to render aid in flood conditions. The state has also received Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from Georgia if it becomes necessary to fly food and water in to stranded residents, Stein said.
Even with the resources in place, Stein urged residents to prepare disaster kits with enough food and water for three to five days for all members of the household as well as batteries, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio. He also advised residents to be wary of potential misinformation on social media, and to only follow official sources. “Please be sure to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts, especially during the overnight hours,” Ray said.
In addition, Stein said residents on the coast should have “go-bags” ready with cash, prescriptions, phone chargers, and any important personal and financial documents, in case a sudden evacuation is required. “Take photos of whatever you own that is valuable in case it gets destroyed,” he said.
Erin is the fifth named storm of this Atlantic hurricane season.
This story will be updated.
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