Evacuations begin in North Carolina as Cat 3 storm bears down on Outer Banks

Evacuations are underway in North Carolina as Hurricane Irene, a category 3 storm, turns towards the state. Residents on several barrier islands have left their homes behind and sought inland shelter. The storm is predicted to strike in a little more than two day's time. 

HATTERAS, NC (Catholic Online) - Irene's maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and additional signs of strengthening make this storm a serious one for the east coast, according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm is projected to make landfall against North Carolina's outer banks, then skirt the edge of the coast northward. The power of the building storm suggests that locations far inland will also experience significant impacts from the storm. Flooding and power outages are certain.

Officials remind that even small storms can be deadly and unpredictable. In 2003, Hurricanes Isabel killed 33 people, although it was only a category 2 storm. With those memories in their head, many residents of the outer banks are wisely choosing to evacuate.

On Tuesday, residents on the tiny barrier island of Ocracoke, were ordered to depart with the first evacuees arriving on the mainland just before dawn Wednesday. Most of the initial evacuees are tourists, with few belongings and nothing to leave behind, however residents are expected to flee shortly afterwards. Some people trying to get to the island have turned away after questioning from state authorities.

In 1999, Hurricane Floyd, a category 2 storm brought a storm surge that destroyed several properties in the Outer Banks. Officials and residents are now understandably worried, since Irene is a category 3 and strengthening as it departs the Caribbean. 

The storm is expected to impact areas well north of the Outer Banks. New England has been put on alert and told to prepare. Maine officials have been warned of possible power outages. 
While projections indicate that landfall will occur in the Outer Banks region, storms can behave unpredictably, and landfall could occur anywhere between South Carolina to Massachusetts. 

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