Hurricane Erin, Rip Current and beach erosion
Digest more
Dramatic aerial footage shows storm surge flooding homes and a motel in North Carolina’s Outer Banks on Aug. 19 as Hurricane Erin battered the coast. Officials ordered evacuations in Dare County, warning of life-threatening winds and rising waters.
Three flags warn of surf and rip current conditions. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There's also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason.
Rip currents off the coast of New Hampshire last week resulted in dozens of rescues on Hampton Beach. Lifeguards at the popular summer destination made 144 rescues over six days, the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol said. There were 51 rescues on Aug. 12 alone.
Central Florida’s coastline is preparing for significant impacts from Hurricane Erin, despite the storm not making landfall in the area.