rest, but now we have to head home. >> only a few considered tempting mother nature. >> we're from jersey. we paid from saturday to saturday. so i'm getting my full seven days. >> the same preparations took place in coastal regions stretching up the entire east coast, but officials stress that oirene is not a coastal event. >> one of the things that i've seen over the years is people well inland are surprised by the amount of wind they get, the trees that come down and that and the like. >> for the major metropolitan areas of washington, baltimore, philadelphia, new york and boston, irene threatens to cause major transportation disruptions. hundreds of flights and trains have already been canceled. subway systems may be shut down. despite the inconvenience authorities say all the preparation will help to limit loss of life and injury. >> it does not mean that power won't go out over large areas and that it will take some time to get things back to normal. >> government agencies will depend heavily on charitable, volunteer and religious organizations in the storm's