Hurricane Irene: Storm Watches Issued for Carolinas

The threat of such danger has jumpstarted preparation and evacuation efforts throughout the United States. Ocracoke Island, a tiny barrier island in North Carolina, has already asked residents to begin evacuating as it prepares for the biggest hurricane to hit American soil in seven years.

The last big hurricane of at least Category 3 strength to strike the U.S. was Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. The last hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. was Hurricane Ike, in 2008.

Not only has have the Carolinas begun to prepare, as possibly the expected first U.S. landing point for Irene, but states throughout the East Coast are gearing up for possible impact from the powerful hurricane.

Virginia state agencies are preparing for Irene in case it changes its path, according to its Department of Emergency Management.

The hurricane could graze Virginia on Saturday as it begins its path upwards towards the New York and New England areas. The expected heavy rainfall, high speed winds, and other effects led the Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue a warning to all residents of the East Coast.

"Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders," Craig Fugate, manager of FEMA, told ABC News. "The Hurricane Center says this storm is going to grow and strengthen... and it's really something people need to be prepared now for so they can be ready if they have to act."

Northeast residents can expect remnants of the hurricane to hit New Jersey by Sunday afternoon, before it continues to make its way up to New York and New England, according to forecasters.

"There's a lot of uncertainty with the track right now," said Al Cope, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Mount Holly office, to the Star Ledger. "The center could be off the coast of New Jersey by Sunday afternoon."

From New Jersey, it could make landfall in New York by Sunday evening.