Preparing for floods due to the approach of Hurricane Erin in North Carolina

The Atlantic hurricane season has reached its historical peak, and the state of North Carolina is preparing for the potential impact of Hurricane Erin. The large and powerful storm is currently churning northward, some 245 miles southeast of North Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 kph).

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings for portions of coastal North Carolina and Virginia, as swells generated by Erin are expected to affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada. The NHC has also stated that there is a possibility that Erin could still restrengthen to a major hurricane.

In response, the North Carolina Emergency Management agency has issued mandates and recommendations for preparation. Residents are urged to verify their emergency kits, secure their property, and check their insurance documents, alongside other precautionary measures. Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands in North Carolina.

Highway 12, which runs through the Outer Banks of North Carolina, could be left impassable by waves as high as 20 feet (six meters) due to Hurricane Erin. To prepare for the storm, North Carolina has pre-positioned three swift water rescue teams, 200 National Guard troops, boats, high clearance vehicles, and aircraft to various locations on the coast.

The state's Governor, Josh Stein, has urged residents to store enough food, water, and supplies to last up to five days and to safeguard important documents like insurance policies. He has also criticized inadequate federal assistance from the administration of President Donald Trump following last year's Hurricane Helene, which caused approximately $60 billion in damage to the state.

The warmer oceans are fueling stronger winds in tropical cyclones, and the larger size of Hurricane Erin means tropical storm-force winds extend hundreds of miles from its center, earning it the moniker "Enormous Erin." Higher sea levels are magnifying storm surge in tropical cyclones due to climate change, and a warmer atmosphere is intensifying rainfall in these storms.

There is some evidence, though less certainty, that climate change is making hurricanes more frequent. However, there is evidence that climate change is supercharging tropical cyclones, making them more powerful and potentially more destructive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continues to forecast an above-normal season.

Despite a relatively quiet start, there have been just four named storms so far in the Atlantic hurricane season. As of Wednesday afternoon, Erin is not expected to make landfall in the southern US state, which is still recovering from last year's Hurricane Helene. However, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and heed the warnings issued by the authorities.