Reports show that as many as 5,000 holidaymakers have been evacuated from Hatteras and Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of Norther Carolina. These people were evacuated from the area as Hurricane Earl approaches the east coast.

At the time of posting, the storm was about 410 miles south of Cape Hatteras moving north by northwest at about 18 miles per hour. Information from the National Hurricane Center said that winds were blowing at about 140 miles an hour.

Earl is still not forecast to strike the United States mainland directly. However, its swirling winds are expected to sideswipe the densely populated coast. The American President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency as states along the United States eastern seaboard continue to prepare.

Although the storm is only expected to brush the shoreline, officials are preparing evacuation plans should the hurricane come close enough to make landfall. After all, the path of a hurricane can be unpredictable at times.

The United States Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Federal Emergencies Management Agency, has been authorized to coordinate disaster relief. This move is designed to help allow rapid movement of equipment and other resources if the hurricane threatens any very populated areas.

Of course, there are some other things to watch out there in the sea as well. The holiday destination of Bermuda has already issued a tropical storm watch as Tropical Storm Fiona heads towards the island. The storm has winds of up to 50 miles per hour. Right now Fiona is about 670 miles south of Bermuda moving at 17 miles per hour.