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East Coast Braces for Hurricane Irene as Storm's Outer Bands Hit Carolinas

Published August 26, 2011 | FoxNews.com

Before Hurricane Irene reached the U.S., two million residents were ordered to evacuate their homes in at least five states as the outer bands lashed North and South Carolina on Friday with heavy rain and flooding.

"Don't wait. Don't delay," said President Barack Obama, who decided to cut short his summer vacation by a day and return to Washington. "I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now."

Irene is expected to be the strongest hurricane to strike the East Coast in seven years and one that could inflict billions in damages in an arc from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

The main thrust of the storm wasn't expected in North Carolina until sometime Saturday, but surging storm waves were already hitting the state's Outer Banks, where thousands of tourists and locals have fled.

Irene weakened slightly Friday, dropping down to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 105 mph. But some re-strengthening was possible and the storm was expected to be between a Category 2 and 3 storm as it reached North Carolina's coast, the National Hurricane Center said.
 

Irene Arrives

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Irene weakened slightly Friday, dropping down to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 105 mph. But some re-strengthening was possible and the storm was expected to be between a Category 2 and 3 storm as it reached North Carolina's coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 2 p.m. ET Friday, Irene was located about 300 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C., the National Hurricane Center said.

The powerful hurricane destroyed hundreds of homes on small Bahamian islands but largely spared the capital of Nassau as it tore over the sprawling archipelago Thursday. There were no immediate reports of deaths, but some small settlements reported up to 90 percent of their homes damaged. Assessments from other islands were not in because telephone lines were down.

The U.S. hurricane warning area was expanded to covered the coast from North Carolina north to Sandy Hook, N.J., which is just south of New York City. A hurricane watch extended even farther north and included Long Island, and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts.

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In New York, the fifth state to order mandatory evacuations, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said all resident living in low-lying areas of the city should leave their homes. He said New Yorkers must evacuate by 5 p.m. Saturday, adding that emergency shelters will be opened at 4 p.m. Friday. 

"The sun is shining but don't be misled," Bloomberg said in a press conference. "There is a very dangerous storm headed in our direction."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said Friday that public transportation in New York City will shut down at about noon on Saturday.

NYC to Shut Down Mass Transit System Ahead of Irene

Farther south, tens of thousands packed up and left North Carolina beach towns and farmers pulled up their crops.

Coastal North Carolina's fields earned nearly $6.3 billion in farm income in 2009 alone from tobacco, corn and other crops. Read more on foxnews.com