Forecasters say Irene''s sustained hurricane-force winds have slammed into the North Carolina coast.

(31 Aug 2011) HEADLINE (48 characters): Hurricane Irene slams into North Carolina coast CAPTION: (255 characters): Forecasters say Irene''s sustained hurricane-force winds have slammed into the North Carolina coast. Irene is expected to continue churning its way up the U.S. East Coast through some of the most densely populated areas of the United States.(Aug. 27) HURRICANE IRENE HAS LOST SOME POWER - BUT IS STILL THREATENING A CATASTROPHIC RUN UP THE EAST COAST. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SAYS SUSTAINED WINDS OF 80 MILES PER HOUR WERE RECORDED JUST AFTER 6 A-M EASTERN TIME. OVERNIGHT - THE CATEGORY ONE STORM BROUGHT WINDS NEAR 100 MILES PER HOUR. IRENE IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN A HURRICANE AS IT MOVES UP THE MID-ATLANTIC. THE STORM''S FORCE COULD BE SEEN ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST - AS THE OUTER BANDS OF WIND AND RAIN KNOCKED OUT POWER TO MORE THAN 91-THOUSAND CUSTOMERS - INCLUDING A HOSPITAL IN MOREHEAD CITY. HURRICANE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO MASSACHUSETTS. JUST OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE. AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE DAMAGE THAT IRENE IS CAPABLE OF. [Notes:SOT: Evelyn Burrows/Cat Island Resident] ("i''ve grown and grown here and I have never seen anything like this, never. Thank god for life and we had no deaths.") ON CAT ISLAND IN THE BAHAMAS - RESIDENTS ARE CLEANING UP AFTER IRENE DOWNED TREES AND FLOODED HOMES. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...