RALEIGH, N.C. — Ferries are taking people off an island on North Carolina's Outer Banks as powerful Hurricane Earl heads toward the United States.
North Carolina Emergency Management Department officials say two ferries began making the 2 1/2-hour trip to the mainland shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Hyde County spokeswoman Jamie Tunnell says about 30 cars and trucks pulling campers were waiting in line for the first ferry before 6 a.m.
Emergency Services Director Lindsey Mooney says officials hope the 800 or so local residents will follow tourists off the island.
Megan Aldridge at the Ocracoke Harbor Inn says guests in eight rooms were leaving and she expected those in the other seven occupied rooms to leave as well.
A second North Carolina county, Dare County, has also ordered the evacuation of visitors on Hatteras Island. Officials worry that high waves could wash over N.C. Highway 12, the principle road along the Outer Banks.
More evacuations could be on the way as Earl threatens to sideswipe the East Coast and ruin vacation plans for people over the long Labor Day weekend.
In Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to declare an emergency, a preliminary step needed to muster emergency personnel should Earl hit.
Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said Atlantans do not need to worry about the hurricane just yet. "Our own weather? We're not affected by the hurricane right now," Minton said on Wednesday.
Earl was expected to remain over the open ocean before turning north and running parallel to the East Coast, bringing high winds and heavy rain to North Carolina's Outer Banks by late Thursday or early Friday. From there, forecasters said, it could curve away from the coast somewhat as it makes it way north, perhaps hitting Massachusetts' Cape Cod and the Maine shoreline on Friday night and Saturday.
You can track Hurricane Earl by CLICKING HERE.
WSBTV
