Hurricane Erin has prompted a state of emergency in North Carolina, as it travels towards the east coast. Erin, now a Category 2 hurricane, is expected to bring dangerous waves and rip currents to beaches along the East Coast. The hurricane’s tropical force winds are expected to reach North Carolina’s coast on Wednesday and Thursday, with most impacts felt on the Outer Banks – which is expected to get heavy rain, winds over 40 mph and a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet this week.

A Category 2 hurricane is defined as “having maximum sustained winds from 96 mph to 110 mph.” Erin is capable of causing devastating damage with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph, and forecasters said fluctuations in Erin’s strength were possible over the next few days. The center of the storm was expected to pass east of the Bahamas and move between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as Hurricane Erin makes its way towards the eastern coast. Stein said on Tuesday: “To folks on the coast, now is the time to prepare. Hurricane Erin will bring threats of coastal flooding, beach erosion and dangerous surf conditions. North Carolinians along the coast should get prepared now, ensure their emergency kit is ready, and listen to local emergency guidelines and alerts in the event they need to evacuate.”

The governor’s office said that resources and personnel have been mobilized to provide assistance along the coast while the state prepares for the hurricane’s impacts. During the next 48 hours, Erin is expected to increase in size and strength, and is forecasted to cause beach erosion from 15-to-20 20-foot waves, coastal flooding and life-threatening rip currents this week. Prior to the governor’s state of emergency, local states of emergency were declared in Dare and Hyde counties, with mandatory evacuations set in place for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands. Warren County Emergency Management’s State Operated Disaster Shelter on 113 Wilcox Street in Warrenton will provide shelter to residents evacuated from the coast, and will also allow pets.

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