The sandy, vulnerable barrier islands on North Carolina's coast may see houses swept away and a vital roadway flooded — yet again.

Hurricane Erin is expected to stay at least 200 miles offshore this week as it curves past the East Coast. Yet the massive storm still is hurling giant waves and life-threatening storm surge toward North Carolina’s Outer Banks — forcing some communities to evacuate.

Hurricane Erin forced tourists to cut their vacations short on North Carolina’s Outer Banks even though the monster storm is expected to stay offshore after lashing part of the Caribbean with rain and wind on Monday.