Some Outer Banks residents are staying put despite Hurricane Erin prompting mandatory evacuations in the Outer Banks.
Local states of emergency have been declared in Dare County and Hyde County, and mandatory evacuations are in place for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands. More than 1,000 people left the Outer Banks on Monday.
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During high tide on Tuesday evening, waves crashed against Buxton homes and hotels, and more of the same is expected to happen on Wednesday.
Local authorities blocked off part of N.C. Highway 12, and conditions are only expected to deteriorate further on Thursday.
Hotel manager on Hatteras Island says many are staying to keep an eye on property
For one property manager, she and her husband said seeing the damage Hurricane Erin has already done is difficult to see.
“It's heart-wrenching,” said Melinda Meadows, Cape Hatteras Motel property manager.
Meadows told WRAL News that she and her husband wanted to keep an eye on the property. She said some walks have been knocked out, a few heat pumps have washed out, and the sand barriers are largely gone.
“I mean, I knew it would be bad staying around because I knew the tides would be high,” she said. “But we haven't even started really getting the wind.”
Meadows has been posting Facebook live videos going viral as they show the unbelievable power of the ocean.
She told WRAL News, she and her husband are anxious about getting through the night Wednesday and early Thursday.
'Turn around, don't drown,' Gov. Stein urges caution along the coast
Gov. Josh Stein singled out N.C. 12 during an emergency briefing Wednesday, asking people to be extremely careful if they're driving and water on that road, or any other, is rising.
"Too many people have died driving into flooded roadways," Stein said. "Don't do it. You do not know how deep the water is or how fast it is running, so please, don't drown. Turn around. We do not want you to become a casualty of Hurricane Erin. With ocean overwash, we anticipate impacts to our roadways, especially N.C. Highway 12."
Storm surge flooding and tropical storm conditions are expected, and the Outer Banks could see waves between 15 and 20 feet.
"There's going to be a lot of erosion," one resident said. "When a big storm comes, a lot of sand is wiped out, and it's going to be really bad for Rodanthe and Buxton."
Dare County leaders said Tuesday evening the window to leave the area is closing. N.C. 12, the only road on or off Hatteras Island, is already seeing coastal flooding and overwash.
On Tuesday afternoon, the North Carolina Department of Transportation posted a photo on X of N.C. Highway 12 from the north end of Buxton.
"N.C. 12 is still open and passable, but things will deteriorate quickly over the next few days," the post reads. "The time to evacuate is now."
Here's a look at the north end of Buxton. This was taken roughly 2.5 hours BEFORE this afternoon's high tide. NC12 is still open and passable, but things will deteriorate quickly over the next few days. The time to evacuate is now. pic.twitter.com/3yTVAvQVWM
— NCDOT NC12 (@NCDOT_NC12)
August 19, 2025WRAL asked Stein on Wednesday about what the long-term viability of the road is, since it is among the only ways in or out of some communities — and is increasingly threatened by erosion and storm damage.
The state is already studying long-term changes, like elevating the highway to higher land. Stein said Wednesday that protecting N.C. 12 is a priority for the state.
"Look, people love our Outer Banks," he said. "It's a national treasure, and you need to be able to get to them. We have ferries that take us to the islands, but this is an important road for North Carolina. So many people live there. There's so much tourism dollars that goes on that road. It is an important asset to the state, and we need to do everything we can to protect and preserve it."
The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for the Outer Banks from the Beaufort Inlet to Duck, including the Pamlico Sound. It means tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in the next 36 hours.
While the eye of Hurricane Erin is expected to stay in the Atlantic, it is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along the North Carolina coast.
On Tuesday, crews with the North Carolina Department of Transportation worked to stack sand at least 10 feet high in spots along the ocean in Nags Head due to the expected storm surge.
Jason Rosenfeld, who manages the Black Drum Tackle shop in Buxton, is among the Outer Banks residents who have chosen to stay. He explained his decision not to leave.
“I’ll go down with my ship,” he said. “I’m fine with it. I’ve lived a full life.”
Jenni Koontz, a photographer shooting around Hatteras Island for nearly 17 years, capture Erin's opening blows, including at one of the islands most vulnerable places: Bruxton.
"The problem is, we don't have any beach here," Koontz said. "We're running our of beach."
Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson delivered a message to residents on Tuesday.
"I know many who live on Hatteras Island feel they can ride out the storm, but Erin’s different," Pearson said.
Rosenfeld acknowledged Hurricane Erin would be different and potentially dangerous.
"I don't mind seeing the chaos," Pearson said. "It's definitely an experience. But mainly, I don't know if I could really survive all that well out in the normal world."
"Where am I going to go? Everything I own is in my house, in my tiny home, my little cabin or in my car or here [at Black Drum Tackle shop]. I can’t leave that, you know. I’ll go down with my ship."
Authorities have told people who have stayed that they need food, water and necessary medicine because they expect N.C. Highway 12 to be washed over.
Life-threatening rip currents are expected throughout the week.
Double red flags are flying at Nags Head beaches, asking people to stay out of the water due to life-threatening conditions.
Here’s what the flag colors mean.
- Green flag: Low hazard
- Yellow flag: Medium hazard
- Red flag: High hazard
- Double red flag: Closed beach
- Purple flag: Dangerous marine animals are nearby
All Dare County beaches are closed as of Tuesday evening. Anyone going into the water can be charged with a misdemeanor. However, entry with a surfboard is allowed.