The east coat of the US is bracing itself for the possible arrival of Hurricane Irene. The category three storm has been battering the Bahamas with winds of up to 120 mph. Visitors and resident on the islands off the coast of North Carolina have already been evacuated and residents on the coast have been stocking up on provisions.

Some parts of the Bahamas have been hard hit with Irene blowing down power lines and lampposts and damaging roofs. Mayaguana Island was left without electricity according to Vernon Rahming, a police inspector. Settlements on Crooked and Acklins islands in the south have also been severely damaged according to officials.

On Wednesday, crowds of tourists made there way to Nassau airport in a hope of making it onto one of the last flights out of the capital. All of the hotels are also fully book as people prepare to sit the storm out.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami has said that water levels are likely to rise by as much as 11 feet higher than normal as Irene causes a storm surge in the north west of the islands. The centre also predicted that rather than dissipating Irene would grow in strength to become a category four storm.

Federal Emergency Management Agency head, Craig Fugate, admitted that Irene was a big storm and capable of causing considerable damage to parts of the east coast. Preparations are being made as far north as Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The US Navy is also making preparations to move its fleet out of Irene’s way.