Hurricane Erin Causes Dangerous Rip Currents & Coastal Flooding, Threatens Beachfront Property
on Aug 21, 2025
Hurricane Erin Continues To Pose A Massive Threat On The East Coast
Hurricane Erin has shifted away from the United States mainland Thursday afternoon after making its closest pass to the North Carolina coast.
Although no longer a direct threat, the storm remains generating large waves, strong rip currents, and coastal flooding, prompting officials to urge the public to stay out of the water.
The National Hurricane Center warned that roads on the low-lying barrier islands could become impassable as waves up to 15 to 20 feet hit the shore.
By Wednesday night (August 20), the North Carolina Department of Transportation closed a section of Highway 12, a vital route through the Outer Banks, due to widespread flooding.
RELATED: Hurricane Erin To Unleash Dangerous Surf And Rip Currents Along U.S. East Coast, Bermuda
Homes In Outer Banks Near Collapse
Two beachfront homes in the Outer Banks town of Rodanthe are dangerously close to collapse as Hurricane Erin’s surf washes away the sand supporting their wooden pilings.
These homes rest on G.A. Kohler Court, a stretch that juts farther into the Atlantic than any other part of North Carolina, making them especially susceptible to collapsing. Since 2020, at least 11 neighboring homes have already fallen into the Atlantic in the area, according to the National Park Service.
“Perhaps it was more well understood in the past that the barrier island was dynamic, that it was moving,” superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Outer Banks, David Hallac, said. “And if you built something on the beachfront it may not be there forever or it may need to be moved.”
The homes’ support comes from wooden pilings, but the trecherous surf is washing away the surrounding sand, undermining the foundations. Hallac claimed the structures were similar to “a toothpick in wet sand, or even a beach umbrella.”
“All of a sudden, the foreshore, that area between low water and high water, is right up next to somebody’s backyard. And then the erosion continues,” Hallac said.
New Jersey Declares State of Emergency For Erin
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a State of Emergency due to Hurricane Erin, taking effect at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday (August 21). The measure was enacted in anticipation of coastal and flash flooding, dangerous surf warnings and advisories, and strong winds across the state.
Officials warn that parts of New Jersey could face sustained winds reaching up to 50 mph as Erin approaches. Along the Jersey Shore, waves may surge as high as 17 feet, creating deadly conditions and significant beach erosion.
“Over the past couple of days, we have seen the effects of Hurricane Erin along the Jersey Shore in the form of dangerous rip tides. [Thursday] and [Friday] will be no exception,” Governor Murphy said in a statement.
⚠️ I have declared a State of Emergency effective at 2:00 p.m. in preparation for Hurricane Erin.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 21, 2025
We are expecting coastal and flash flooding, along with high surf and rip currents. Please monitor weather forecasts and stay informed on evacuation protocols, especially if you’re…
