Hurricane Irene storms ashore in the eastern U.S. state of North Carolina Saturday, beginning its potentially devastating trek up the East Coast. Irene carried winds of 140 kilometers per hour as it made landfall and battered the eastern U.S. coast with heavy rains. The storm has already toppled trees, flooded streets and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people.
Hurricane Irene Makes Landfall in US
Alora Goldsmith, 10, battles the wind and rain as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, August 27, 2011 (AP)
Residents of the Far Rockaway section of New York City crowd onto a bus as they evacuate the area ahead of Hurricane Irene, 27 August 2011. (Reuters Image)
Resident Don Hurtig looks over an oak tree that blew over in his front yard as Hurricane Irene comes ashore near Morehead City, North Carolina. (Reuters Image)
Hurricane Irene hits Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Rodanthe, North Carolina. (Reuters Image)
A man struggles against the wind while trying to walk over the dunes as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Nags Head, North Carolin, August 27, 2011. (AP Image)
A pedestrian crosses an open area as Hurricane Irene passes through Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, August 27, 2011. Hurricane Irene howled ashore in North Carolina with heavy winds, rain and surf on a path threatening the densely populated U.S. East
Waves move onto the beach as the Hurricane Irene approaches in Nags Head, North Carolina. (AP Image)
Abandoned beach front houses are surrounded by rising water as the effects of Hurricane Irene are felt in Nags Head, North Carolina. (AP Image)
Waves and wind from Hurricane Irene pound the Rudee inlet jetty in Virginia Beach , Virginia. (AP Image)
Waves crash on a breakwater during the early effects of Hurricane Irene in Ocean City, Maryland. (Reuters Image)
Ticket agents remove the stanchions which form the ticketing lines at JFK International Airport as the city prepare for Hurricane Irene to hit in New York, New York. (Reuters Image)
Pedestrians walk past sandbags used to control possible floods at downtown Manhattan in New York, August 26, 2011. New York ordered residents in low-lying areas to evacuate before the onslaught this weekend of massive Hurricane Irene. (Reuters Image)