NEWS:

(CNN) -- Travelers and airlines are casting a wary eye on the projected path of Hurricane Irene, getting ready to change plans if necessary as the storm gets closer to the United States.

The powerful storm battered the Bahamas on Thursday and is forecast to pound much of the U.S. East Coast starting early Saturday.

American Airlines cancelled 126 flights Thursday, mostly out of Miami and the Bahamas, an airline spokesman said.

Most carriers are allowing travelers in the Caribbean to change their itineraries without a fee, and those policies have been extended to parts of the United States. Airlines have posted travel waiver policies for the Caribbean and the East Coast on their websites.

Amtrak has canceled most train service operating south of Washington for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. Service in the Northeast corridor is not affected at this point, but more cancellations may be necessary in the coming days, Amtrak warned.

A mandatory evacuation order was in effect for residents and visitors in Hyde County, North Carolina, which includes Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks.

Nearby Dare County, which includes Manteo, Nags Head, Duck and historic Kitty Hawk, had an evacuation order for tourists only. But state officials hope they will come back as soon as the storm passes.

"By late Sunday or Monday morning, North Carolina, with any good luck, will be open for tourism again," Gov. Bev Perdue said, according to CNN affiliate WRAL.

If you are planning to travel along the East Coast in the next few days, call your hotel and find out what its policies are in case you need to cancel, advised Anne Banas, executive editor atSmarterTravel.

Also keep on top of what your airline is doing, she said, especially because this kind of weather event is not considered to be within carriers' control.

"You don't want to be stranded at the airport," Banas said.

"The only thing you're entitled to in that situation is a refund. So if you're stranded at the airport, you're not necessarily going to get food vouchers or hotel vouchers."

To avoid getting stranded, check with your airline and consider rerouting or rescheduling your trip.

Coast this weekend.

Some airlines have extended change-fee waivers into early next week.

COMMENT: THIS HURRICANE HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE, FOR THE HOMES, AND THINGS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE HAD DIED AND A LOT OF STREETS ARE FLODED. HOPE THIS PROBLEMS THAT THE HURRICANE BROUGHT ARE SOLVED FAST SO THE TURISM CAN CONTINUE AND THE ECONOMY RISE AGAIN