As of 2 p.m. Thursday most Island towns had declared a state of emergency due to the oncoming approach of hurricane Earl, according to an announcement that went out via the Island Code Red system.

Roads and business were expected to close by 2 p.m. Friday and remain closed for 24 hours after the storm. The Steamship Authority issued a travel advisory that ferry service is expected to be cancelled on Friday as the storm approaches. Ferry service to the Vineyard is expected to be suspended by sometime early afternoon on Friday, said SSA general manager Wayne Lamson. Once service is suspended the ferries will remain out of service for at least 24 hours.

The New England Fast Ferry has advised that the only trips operating on Friday, Sept. 3, will be 6:30 a.m. to Vineyard Haven and the 9:30 a.m. to Oak Bluffs out of New Bedford, and the 8 a.m. from Vineyard Haven and 10:50 from Oak Bluffs.

A complete story about the approach of hurricane Earl will appear in the Friday Gazette, including a detailed list of emergency information, location of shelters and telephone numbers. The hurricane had weakened slightly and been downgraded from category four to three early Thursday evening; it is expected to brush the Carolina coast on Thursday night before heading up the Eastern Seaboard.

A hurricane warning has been posted for the Cape and Islands.

Gov. Deval Patrick also has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Earl’s arrival, to allow the state to respond quickly to the storm.