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RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency Wednesday for North Carolina in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Earl.

The order calls for all state and local government agencies to cooperate in implementing the emergency operations plan.

Earl's strongest winds are expected to reach the coast Thursday night into Friday morning. Perdue warned residents along the Outer Banks to leave those areas immediately. The governor also asked for all boats to be brought in along the coast.

"Based on the model, NC-12 as usual will be flooded and that we'll have heavy seas and beach erosion and some high winds and they make get as far inland, the high winds, as Kinston," said Perdue.

Perdue says the state Division of Emergency Management will work with local emergency managers in responding to weather-related calls.

Already, hundreds of cars were backed up in traffic on N.C. Highway 12, the sole link between the fragile barrier islands and the mainland. There's already an emergency shelter set up in Pitt County at North Pitt High School in Bethel.