Photos: Sending a message to Hurricane Irene

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Hurricane Irene is becoming a summer bummer. It’s cutting short vacations, hurting businesses and bringing torrential rains to what should be a sunny, second-to-last weekend before the back-to-school routine begins in earnest.

Residents up and down the East Coast are striking back in the only way they can. As they pack up their cars and businesses and head to higher and drier ground, they’re sending messages to the storm -- and to each other. Here’s a photo gallery look at some of the signs they’re leaving behind.

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--Rene Lynch

On Twitter @renelynch

View Hurricane Irene track forecast in a larger map