US to see state of emergency due to Erin? Check list of areas likely to be worst hit

The United States bracing for another tropical storm Erin and preparations are underway in the Virgin Islands as it remains on track to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. On Wednesday, a forecast from AccuWeather revealed there is 30 percent probability that Tropical Storm Erin will directly impact the United States next week as it nears the East Coast.

Tropical Storm Erin is continuing on a westward path and is on track to strengthen into a major hurricane this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Erin is currently moving west near 17 mph, and this motion is expected through Thursday, with a west-northwestward motion beginning Thursday night and continuing into the weekend, according to forecasters.

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Erin expected to impact US?

Tropical storm Erin is forecast to intensify into a hurricane on Friday as it tracks just north of the Caribbean islands and begins a turn to the north, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. "Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next day or so, with more significant intensification possible on Friday and Saturday," hurricane center forecasters said on August 14.

According to the NHC, Erin is likely to move near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands over the weekend. Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend. The process of distribution of sandbags in Virgin Islands in the US has been accelerated, officials said, with Erin spinning across the Atlantic Ocean.

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“Due to the projected impact of Tropical Storm Erin on the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), in partnership with the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Services, the Department of Public Works, the Office of ADA Coordinator, and the Department of Human Services, has accelerated the territory-wide sandbag distribution program,” officials said in a Facebook post.

“While the exact impact of Tropical Storm Erin remains uncertain at this time, VITEMA is taking proactive measures to ensure all residents have access to critical hurricane preparedness resources before the storm’s arrival.”

Daryl Jaschen, the Director of the Virgin Islands Territoral Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), told FOX Weather News and how the island territory is preparing.

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"It’s very important that our community get the opportunity to get sandbags primarily for that wind-driven rain," he said. "So, my concern is wind-driven rain, the marine conditions, and of course the wind overall."

"About 98 percent of our goods come from outside the territory," he continued. "So, my power plants, I have to get fuel for them. I have to get support for the airports. I have communications. We just started school yesterday, so, obviously, the impact for schools and the parents.

Even if Erin does avoid landfall on the United States, "there will be a significant increase in seas, surf, and rip currents along the East Coast beaches next weekend into the following week," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill told USA Today.

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How are residents preparing for Erin?

Residents in the US also preparing for potential impacts from Tropical Storm Erin, tourists also need to be informed.

"We do have a Department of Tourism," Daryl Jaschen told Fox Weather News. "We have the ability to mass communicate for the Department of Tourism, as well as our hotel association to encourage (tourists) to basically start making their moves."

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If a State of Emergency is declared, work will begin to try and get tourists to safety, "especially from St. John over to St. Thomas."

The US isn’t leaving anything to chance. On Wednesday, it activated Port Condition Whiskey for all seaports in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a precautionary measure.

Under Port Condition Whiskey, ports remain open to commercial traffic and cargo transfers can continue, but pleasure craft are urged to head to safe harbor. Authorities have also instructed port facilities to review and update their heavy-weather response plans and take any extra steps necessary to brace for possible impacts.