(Image Source: Travelpod)

 

BY EMILY SPAIN

 
You're watching multisource US news analysis from Newsy.
 
 
Hurricane Irene is on the move and so are tourists and residents on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

The now category 3 storm had emergency management officials specifically calling for tourists to evacuate Ocracoke Island early Wednesday morning, in hopes of getting them out before Irene’s expected arrival on Saturday night.

So why is this 16-mile-long island of beaches getting all the attention?  Fox News reports it’s because the only way off is by ferry, which isn’t the quickest get-away.

“If you go from the Cedar Point side which is our side it’s a two and a half hour trip, if you go from the Hatteras side it’s about 40 minutes. And there are hundreds of people on that island so they want to make sure they have plenty of time to get them off.”

Another set back, the ferry can only carry 50 cars at a time.

While tourists were urged to start evacuating Ocracoke Wednesday at 5 a.m., residents are advised to pack up and get out Thursday. But not everyone is paying attention to the evacuations, as MSNBC reports, some rely on their own instincts.

“The folks here are of course aware that Irene is back that way about 900 plus miles, but they are also paying attention to well, first especially tourists as to whether they’re going to have to leave, and local residents waiting to determine if they’re going to have to take action.”

And according to North Carolina’s WITN, many locals will ride out the storm.

“‘I’ll be here,’ said [Tommy] Hutcherson, who has lived on Ocracoke for 29 years. ‘A lot of locals will choose to stay.’”

It’s been more than 10 years since the last category 3 storm hit the Carolinas. And while Irene churns preparing to be the next hundreds miles away, some escape and some wait.

U.S. News: Hurricane Irene Evacuations

Evacuations Begin in NC as Irene Approaches

August 24, 2011
(1:44)
While hurricane Irene churns near the Bahamas, North Carolina residents and tourists on the Outer Banks are some of the first to start evacuations.
   
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