Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked to vacate Georgica Beach in East Hampton after lifeguards enforced a temporary closure due to dangerous surf conditions left by Hurricane Erin. Although the beach reopened to foot traffic later that day, it remained officially closed when Blinken arrived. He complied with the safety directive, packing up his belongings and leaving peacefully alongside a companion.
Safe beaches across the region gradually reopened in the aftermath of the Category 5 storm, but officials emphasized that strong rip currents and hazardous wave patterns persisted, leading authorities to maintain restrictions on swimming and beach access.