ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Remnants of Tropical Storm Ida are pounding the East Coast, flooding coastal areas in New Jersey after slamming the Carolinas and Virginia.

Strong winds and waves are causing severe beach erosion along the New Jersey shore. However, the rain has not been as heavy as first predicted and that could help ease the flooding.

Many streets are flooded in Cape May County, which was under a state of emergency. Although officials suggested voluntary evacuations of low-lying areas late Thursday, there's no immediate word of any mandatory evacuations.

The storm has been blamed for five deaths across three states. The Coast Guard halted the search for three missing New Jersey fishermen whose boat sank in rough seas Wednesday night.

Thousands of people are without power.