Hurricane Erin is bearing down on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, with forecasters warning the storm could completely destroy abandoned homes along the coast by Thursday.

The storm is expected to bring towering waves of 15 to 20 feet and a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet, conditions that pose a major threat to the fragile shoreline and aging structures already weakened by years of erosion.

Emergency officials have issued warnings for residents and visitors to stay off beaches and evacuate low-lying areas as conditions deteriorate. While many of the at-risk properties are abandoned, the storm’s intensity raises concerns about damage to nearby communities and infrastructure.

Cape Hatteras, long known as one of the most vulnerable stretches of the Outer Banks, has a history of homes collapsing into the sea during powerful storms. Authorities fear Hurricane Erin could add more destruction to that list.

Meteorologists continue to monitor Erin’s track closely, urging the public to remain prepared for rapidly changing conditions.