As Hurricane Erin nears the North Carolina coast, authorities have taken major steps to protect residents and infrastructure along NC Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island. After the last ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras departs at 5:30 PM today,

Hurricane Erin won’t make landfall on the Outer Banks but is projected to produce dangerous rip currents along the beaches.

NCDOT officials said "given the winds, wave heights and storm surge forecast, it likely won't be enough" to keep NC 12 from flooding at the Outer Banks.