Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for New Jersey on Thursday afternoon as Hurricane Erin battered coastal communities with strong winds and waves that flooded streets and eroded beaches.

The State of Emergency went into effect at 2 p.m. as coastal and flash flooding, dangerous surf warnings and advisories, as well as high winds are expected for several counties across the Garden State.

Hurricane Erin's effects have triggered state-of-emergency declarations in New Jersey and North Carolina as the storm system moves along the East Coast.

Hurricane Erin battered North Carolina's Outer Banks with strong winds and waves that flooded part of the main highway and surged under beachfront homes before slowly moving away.