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Hurricane Erin forced thousands of tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore.
Red flags are flying all along the coast.
Rescue teams warn Erin’s powerful swells are creating rip currents that can pull swimmers out to sea in just seconds.
Visitors lined up for ferries and clogged westbound highways after a mandatory evacation order took effect Monday morning for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Residents are expected to evacuate on Tuesday.
By late Monday afternoon, the storm was about 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) southwest of Bermuda and about 815 miles (1,300 kilometers) southeast of Cape Hatteras. Tropical storm and surge watches were issued Monday for much of the Outer Banks. Coastal flooding was expected to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday.
While Tropical Storm Chantal brought dangerous rip currents last month, crews say Hurricane Erin is on another level — calling these currents “15 out of 10” in strength.
Sam Proffitt, an ocean rescue lifeguard in Wrightsville Beach, said, “You can 100% avoid a rip current if you don’t get into the ocean. So that’s my advice.”
Bermuda acting Minister of National Security Jache Adams said, “Surfers, swimmers and boaters must resist the temptation to go out. The waters will be very dangerous and lives will be placed at risk.”
Rip currents can reach speeds of eight feet per second — faster than an Olympic swimmer. According to NOAA, they account for more than 80% of rescues performed by surf lifeguards.
The danger of high winds, pounding surf and rip currents was already apparent Monday, when lifeguards at Wrightsville Beach reported more than 50 rescues. In Surf City, that number was 15, while Nag’s Head did not report any resuces Monday.
A storm moving generally parallel to the East Coast can lead to rip currents from Miami up into the Northeast and Atlantic Canada. Warnings for the increased risk of rip currents have already been issued for the entire East Coast of the United States for the next few days.
When a storm is closer to shore, there’s often lightning, rain and angry seas with wind-driven sand. “Any reasonable person might conclude that it’s unsafe to be outside in these conditions,” said Jaime Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center. But when the storm is farther away, there are fewer visual clues that something is wrong. This week, beaches could be sunny and warm with blue skies, giving no indication that it might be unsafe to enter the ocean.
“We definitely thought twice,” said Seth Brotherton, of Catfish, North Carolina, whose weeklong fishing trip ended after two days. “But they said ‘mandatory’ and that pretty much means, ‘get out of here.’”
Drew Pearson, emergency management director for Dare County warned that waves could reach 15 feet (4.6 meters), and N.C. Highway 12 could be closed for a significant period of time, stranding anyone who stays on the island.
Camp Lejeune officials plan to close Onslow Beach to recreational users effects Tuesday at noon. The National Weather Service predicted wave heights between 6 and 12 feet along the Onslow County coastline.
Proffitt said swimmers should not expect the all clear before the weekend.
“We’re flying red flags, don’t venture in,” he said.
“We’ll reevaluate this weekend, maybe the swell has dropped down and it’s a little safer.”
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