Looks bad for the Outer Banks. Fortunately the storm surge will be minimal as Hurricane Irene will pass during the time of low tide. The surf window on this storm is small, as it will be overland and not in the ocean after passing the Outer Banks.
Hurricanes on this track will often push the waters of the inland sounds around and flooding will be worse than from the Ocean due to the lower lying land on the west facing shoreline. My mom has left and is in Wheeling WV this weekend.
VIEW FROM SPACE