Nearly a million people were without electricity on America’s east coast tonight as hurricane Isabel slammed ashore.

The large eye of a weakened Hurricane Isabel crossed the coastal islands off North Carolina today as the storm pounded the coast.

President George Bush today led hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from the path of hurricane Isabel as it bore down on America’s east coast.

Hurricane Isabel is closing in on the North Carolina coast with 105 mph winds and the potential for up to a foot of rain, threatening to cause ruinous flooding across the region.

TRAFFIC streamed inland from the vulnerable Outer Banks of North Carolina yesterday as residents and visitors headed for higher ground ahead of the approaching Hurricane Isabel.