WAVY 10 Andy Fox spoke to Director of Dare County Emergency Management Drew Pearson who said he's expecting a life-threatening storm surge in the area from Hurricane Erin.

Local officials say they only order evacuations ahead of hurricanes when it’s necessary to protect the public.

Hurricane Erin could bring gusty winds and flooding tides which could wash out portions of the highway that connect North Carolina Outer Banks by midweek.

A "wild" video shows the moment waves from Hurricane Erin crashed into homes in the Outer Banks. The North Carolina homes were protected by stilts as the water rushed down the street and around them, according to the video, which was published by The New York Post. The Post referred to the water as a "tidal surge."

The National Hurricane Center warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands will become impassable, with waves of 15 to 20 feet crashing ashore.

Hurricane Erin's large and expanding wind field will bring storm-driven waves, coastal erosion, and high seas, particularly impacting the Outer Banks.

Hurricane Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic waters hundreds of miles off the U.S., prompting officials to close beaches along the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.

Coastal flooding and ocean overwash worsened Wednesday and could peak Thursday in Dare County due to Hurricane Erin.

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Every detail matters during a disaster. As Hurricane Erin moves closer to the NC coast, in Dare County, they've spent months getting ready to help people with medical needs.