Hurricane Erin Prompts Beach Closures: ALA Stresses Rip Current Dangers in AccuWeather Interview

Hurricane Erin Prompts Coastal Beach Closures: ALA Stresses Rip Current Dangers and Flag Warnings in AccuWeather Interview

NEW YORK (AP/AccuWeather) — As Hurricane Erin churns off the Atlantic coast, dangerous rip currents and powerful surf have forced widespread beach closures from New York City to the Jersey Shore, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Officials are urging residents and visitors to stay out of the water, with double-red flags flying in many communities to signal extreme danger.

During a live interview on AccuWeather
, Wyatt Werneth, National Spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), emphasized that these closures highlight both the strength of the storm and the importance of respecting the beach flag warning system.

“Every flag on the beach has a meaning,” Werneth explained. “A single red flag means high hazard. Double-red means the water is closed—stay on the sand. When those flags are flying, it’s not a suggestion. It’s your warning to save your life.”

Widespread Closures Along the Coast

New York City has closed all of its beaches to swimming through Thursday, while Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered multiple Long Island state beaches off-limits. In New Jersey, communities from Asbury Park to Wildwood have prohibited swimming, with Island Beach State Park closed indefinitely. Delaware shut down Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, and Fenwick Island, while Maryland officials closed Assateague Island and Ocean City. Rhode Island has blocked access to Second and Third Beaches in Middletown. Meanwhile, mandatory evacuations are underway on North Carolina’s Hatteras Island, with double-red flags flying across Dare County.

A Deeper Crisis: Lifeguard Shortage and Public Awareness

The ALA warns that the dangers are compounded by the nationwide lifeguard shortage, which forces many communities to rely on thin staffing or extended shifts during hazardous surf events. According to the National Weather Service, rip currents kill about 100 people annually in the U.S. and account for more than 80 percent of all beach rescues. Already this year, at least 27 lives have been lost in rip current incidents.

“Tragedies happen when people ignore the warnings or swim at unguarded beaches,” Werneth told AccuWeather. “The number one rule is simple: swim near a lifeguard. Prevention starts with awareness.”

Forecasts and Erin’s Impact

The National Weather Service now forecasts rip current risk up to six days in advance, but the ALA stresses that warnings only work if the public takes them seriously. Erin, the fifth named storm of the season, is expected to re-intensify before turning away from the U.S. coast. Even without landfall, its swells are flooding roadways in the Carolinas and battering boardwalks from New Jersey to New York.

ALA’s Final Safety Message

Werneth closed his AccuWeather interview with a simple reminder:

“The ocean is always stronger than you are. Respect the flags, listen to lifeguards, and never underestimate a rip current. When the red flags are up—stay on the sand.”

Видео Hurricane Erin Prompts Beach Closures: ALA Stresses Rip Current Dangers in AccuWeather Interview канала American Lifeguard Association