Hurricane Erin, one of the Atlantic's largest storms in decades, rivaled the infamous Hurricane Sandy in sheer size, yet narrowly avoided making landfall in the United States. At its peak, Erin reached Category 5 status, boasting a staggering 650-mile wind field that triggered flooding, dangerous rip currents, and significant storm surge along the East Coast. Fortunately, the storm veered away from the coastline, sparing the region from what could have been catastrophic direct impact.