Irene closes in on North Carolina

Residents in North Carolina’s coastal communities are facing mandatory evacuation as Hurricane Irene’s strong winds and waves move in on the east coast. At 8 a.m., EST on Friday, Irene was about 600 kilometres southwest of North Carolina, but tropical storm-force winds are expected to arrive by late morning or afternoon. The U.S. Navy has sent 38 ships to sea, while emergency preparations further up the coast are already underway. New York officials have created evacuation maps for the city, while residents are stocking up on bottled water, flashlights and generators.

CNN