ENID, Okla. (AP) — Three teams of American Red Cross volunteers from Oklahoma are on their way to North Carolina to help with preparations for and response to Hurricane Irene.

Spokesman Rusty Surette in Oklahoma City says one two person team from Enid left about 6 a.m. Wednesday. Spokeswoman Donita Quesnel in Tulsa says two more teams left Tulsa about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Hurricane Irene was upgraded to a Category 3 storm Wednesday morning and is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane Thursday as it heads toward the East Coast.

Evacuations have begun on a small North Carolina island in advance of the storm.