Hurricane IreneHurricane Irene begins to pummel North Carolina, East Coast braces
Rain from the outer edges of Hurricane Irene has already begun hitting North and South Carolina’s coast and federal officials are urging residents up and down the East Coast to prepare; Irene is expected to affect much of the East Coast from as far south as the Carolinas to Massachusetts in the north
Rain from the outer edges of Hurricane Irene has already begun hitting North and South Carolina’s coast and federal officials are urging residents up and down the East Coast to prepare.
“I cannot stress this highly enough,” said President Obama on Friday. “If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don’t wait. Don’t delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst.”
Irene is expected to affect much of the East Coast from as far south as the Carolinas to Massachusetts in the north.
President Obama said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed teams along the hurricane’s projected path and the agency is readying millions of liters of water, millions of meals, and tens of thousands of cots and blankets.
Obama cautioned residents that it would take time for first responders to begin rescue operations and get resources to people in need, so he urged all residents to prepare
“So the more you can do to be prepared now, making a plan, make a supply kit , know your evacuation route, follow instructions of your local officials, the quicker we can focus our resources after the storm on those who need help the most,” he said.
“All indications point to this being a historic hurricane.”
As Irene inches ever closer to the United States, six to nine-foot waves have been reported along North and South Carolina’s coast and thousands have already lost power.
Historically, Category One hurricanes result in power outtages of about two days, while Category Two storms knock out power for nearly a week.
The worst of the storm, which is currently rated as a Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, is expected to hit North Carolina’s coast sometime on Saturday.
Governor Beverly Perdue is urging North Carolina’s residents to evacuate the coast and inland counties immediately before the heart of the storm makes landfall. Perdue estimates 3.5 million people could be affected by the hurricane.
The storm is forecasted to hit Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston affecting as many as 65 million people.
