Most of the tourists have left Ocracoke Island, and the surfers are watching closely as deadly rip currents lurk below the waves.

The storm has already prompted evacuation orders on North Carolina's Outer Banks and warnings about dangerous rip currents and swells along the East Coast.

Erin is a category 3 major hurricane with winds of 115 mph and is located approximately 750 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras as of Tuesday morning.

Two more tropical systems trail Hurricane Erin, which is following a projected course that brushes past the East Coast without making landfall.

Hurricane Erin is expected to bring large waves, rough surf and life-threatening rip currents from Florida to Canada

North Carolina's governor urged state residents along the coast to prepare and listen to emergency guidelines in anticipation of the storm.

Charlotte Fire has activated its Urban Search and Rescue team to support response efforts as Hurricane Erin approaches the North Carolina coast, deploying the team to Edenton with boats, high water vehicles,