Officials say thousands of people have moved to shelters scattered around Virginia to escape Hurricane Irene.

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The Virginia Department of Emergency Management says more than 4,000 people were in nearly 80 shelters operated by local governments as of about 8:50 p.m. Saturday. There are no state managed shelters at this time.

More than 500 people in Virginia Beach sought shelter as winds and a pelting rain slam the state's largest city.

At Birdsneck Elementary School, about 100 residents are sheltered in a gymnasium. They include sailor Willie Morris, his wife Keharia and their two young daughters, ages 5 years and 6 months.

Morris says he and his family sought out the shelter because their military housing is in a low-lying area. He said some of his neighbors also sought shelter.