Thousands head west hoping to escape Hurricane Irene

North Carolina’s highways are clogged with bumper to bumper traffic as tens of thousands head inland to avoid Hurricane Irene.

ATMs are running out of cash and gas stations are short on fuel as folks prepare for the worst.  

Irene already tore through the Bahamas as a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds.

Evacuations were ordered in North Carolina’s coastal regions including Dare, Currituck and Cateret counties. 

Other states are also heeding forecasters’ warnings.  A state of emergency was declared in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

In New York City, police are deploying more than 80 boats and several helicopters to prepare for emergencies. 

Amtrak announced it’s canceling train service south of Washington, D.C. from Friday until Sunday.

Hurricane Irene is expected to hit the North Carolina coast sometime Saturday afternoon and travel as far as Boston.