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

Mandatory evacuations were ordered and cruise ships were rerouted as a state of emergency was declared in North Carolina. Hurricane Erin, now a Category 2 hurricane, has prompted a state of emergency in North Carolina and is expected to bring dangerous waves and rip currents to beaches along the East Coast.

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

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, where tropical storm force winds are likely Wednesday and Thursday.

RALEIGH, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - Governor Stein has declared a State of Emergency as North Carolina prepares for impacts from Hurricane Erin on Tuesday. Stein said resources and personnel are being mobilized to to help assist along the coast as Hurricane Erin is expected to increase in size and strength during the next 48 hours.

Much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks region is under a tropical storm watch with Hurricane Erin expected to skirt the area Wednesday through Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Erin is expected to bring massive waves and dangerous rip currents to areas along the East Coast. Here's which beaches are closed.

Dangerous coastal impacts from Hurricane Erin will peak along the East Coast on Wednesday and Thursday as the storm passes offshore.