Hurricane Erin was not predicted to hit North Carolina directly, its effects were expected to be felt across the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks by Monday, Aug. 18.

Officials at the North Carolina coast on Sunday declared a state of emergency in Dare County and ordered an evacuation of Hatteras Island at the Outer Banks, ahead of expected flooding from Hurricane Erin.

While monster Category 4 Hurricane Erin will likely stay east of the U.S., officials are warning of life-threatening surf and rip currents at beaches up and down the East Coast from Florida in the Southeast through the mid-Atlantic,