(CBS) - Hurricane Sandy's outer bands are hitting North Carolina's barrier islands as the storm makes its way up the Eastern Seaboard.
Forecasters don't know exactly where it will make landfall, but they do know, it will bring massive amounts of rain and powerful winds to tens of millions of people.
Bulldozers and residents are piling up the sand along the Jersey shore.
Millions are bracing for Hurricane Sandy, a massive storm that is taking aim at the most densely populated region in the U.S.
James Bradley from Pount Pleasant Beach, New Jersey said, "It's really the first time a hurricane came this way, I am taking it seriously."
Sandy is still off shore, heading north. Forecasters believe it will turn toward land and possibly merge with a wintry storm system from the west.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said, "We should not underestimate the impact of this storm. We should not assume the predictions will be wrong."
People in Sandy's path are heeding the warnings.
Businesses are boarding-up, residents are stocking up, and many are seeking higher ground.
Cheryl Nolan of North Wildwood, New Jersey said, "I am hoping I have a house when I come back."
In Atlantic City, the governor has ordered casinos to close Sunday afternoon.
Delaware has issued a mandatory evacuation order of coastal communities for 8 p.m. tonight. Residents and tourists are being urged not to wait until the last minute. Winds gusts could hit 60 miles an hour.
Forecasters expect Sandy's storm surge and torrential rain to cause major flooding in coastal areas and also farther inland.
Power outages are another big concern. Utility crews from Illinois are heading east to help out. Sandy could knock out power for millions before it is over.
Crews in New York City are keeping a close eye on the storm's path as well. The governor and mayor are considering shutting down mass transit systems, including the subways, to avoid flooding trains.
