Hurricane Irene has destroyed dozens of homes in the Bahamas as it roars over the archipelago. Irene is currently a category three storm, with winds of 185km per hour and is expected to strengthen as it heads toward the US east coast. Bahamas officials said Lovely Bay settlement on the remote Acklins Island was devastated but there were no immediate reports of casualties. The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Irene's projected path is expected to take it well offshore of the east coast of central and northern Florida today. The hurricane is forecast to approach the coast of North Carolina on Saturday. Authorities on the east coast of the United States from North Carolina to New York city are preparing for the arrival of hurricane Irene this week-end. The Mayor of New York has said, residents living in low lying areas of the city should start moving out today, before the hurricane is expected to arrive on Sunday. States of emergency have been declared in Virginia, New York and eastern North Carolina.