Hurricane Erin has been a formidable force as it moves away from the East Coast, now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone after reaching a peak intensity of Category 5. The storm unleashed severe waves and rip currents, prompting warnings along beaches from North Carolina to New Jersey, resulting in closures and significant erosion in some coastal towns. State of emergency measures are in effect in New Jersey, with many residents and tourists coping with the aftermath, including flooding and damage. Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring several other potential tropical systems in the Atlantic as Erin departs.