US braces for Irene

The United States is bracing itself for Hurricane Irene.

The storm is moving away from the Bahamas and is aimed directly at the Eastern seaboard.

The warning area stretches from North Carolina's coast up to Sandy Hook, N.J., just south of New York City.

It is estimated that approximately 55 million Americas are currently on high alert due to the storm.

In North Carolina more than 200, 000 residents, including tourists, have been given the order to evacuate Coastal regions.

The number of people affected by Irene is unusually large, due to its forecast to stay just off shore.