A state of emergency has been declared in the American state of North Carolina as Hurricane Irene is expected to hit there later tonight. Thousands of people have been evacuated after the State authorities placed a mandatory evacuation order on coastal areas. The US National Weather Service warned that dangerous rains would lead to serious flooding. 14 people have already been killed as the storm swept through the Caribbean and Florida. The storm also knocked out power to more than 1 million homes and businesses along Florida's east coast.
This is the second hurricane to hit the area in as many months; Hurricane Floyd caused billions of dollars worth of damage and 48 deaths in mid- September.
