Outer Banks residents, tourists pack up as Hurricane Dorian nears

Evacuations began Tuesday for tourists and visitors to the Outer Banks just a few days before Hurricane Dorian was set to arrive in coastal North Carolina.

The sun was shining for much of the day but the area could be one of the hardest hit in the country.

For one woman among those told to leave, it meant saying goodbye before she could say "I do."

"I think we got all the crying out yesterday," said Devon Shields, the bride to be.

Hurricane Dorian: Cooper orders evacuation of all barrier islands as storm moves toward NC

For more than two years, she dreamed of a wedding on the sand.

And she was so close.

But a day before the big day – she was forced to leave.

"We talked to our officiant and they are all from around here and they said there is really nothing we can do," Shields said.

Visitors have been told to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

"We had a caterer lined up, a justice of the pace, make-up, hair," said Drew Shields, the father of the bride. "We got the notice and had to cancel."

The family said they plan to return home to Philadelphia and will decide their next steps.

At the Sea Foam Motel in Nags Head, staffers are grappling with a dwindling number of guests.

"The occupancy obviously goes down because everyone has to get out of here to try and get ahead of the traffic," said Tracey Zimmerman, the establishment's manager.

Cumberland County and Fayetteville officials bracing for Hurricane Dorian

She said she plans to stay, and says some visitors are hanging around as well.

"Hopefully, people will come back and re-book next weekend when everything clears out," Zimmerman said.

Some motel guest and residents said they also plan to stay.

They hope Dorian will turn away and spare the coast the worst of the storm.

Classes have been canceled for Dare County Public Schools for the rest of the week.

The evacuations orders are now in effect for visitors in Dare County, and evacuation orders for residents begin Wednesday morning.