65 million in US wait in path of hurricane
Source: Agencies |
August 27, 2011, Saturday
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SOME 65 million people along the densely populated US East Coast waited warily yesterday for a dangerous hurricane that could inflict billions in damages in an arc from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
Rain carried by Hurricane Irene's outer bands was reaching the southeastern part of North Carolina, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Zouzias. But the main thrust of the hurricane wasn't expected in North Carolina until sometime today.
Irene would be the strongest storm to strike the East Coast in seven years.
By late yesterday morning, Irene remained a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 169 kph. Little change in strength was expected by the time Irene reaches the North Carolina coast today, the National Hurricane Center said.
Speaking from his vacation rental on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, also in Irene's path, President Barack Obama urged Americans to heed instructions from state and local officials, especially if directed to evacuate.
Irene destroyed hundreds of homes on small Bahamian islands but largely spared the capital of Nassau as it tore over the sprawling archipelago on Thursday. Some small settlements reported up to 90 percent of their homes damaged. Assessments from other islands were not in because telephone lines were down.
North Carolina was just first in line along the US Eastern Seaboard – home to some of the nation's most heavily populated areas and some of its priciest real estate. Besides major cities, sprawling suburban bedroom communities, ports, airports, highway networks, cropland and mile after mile of beachfront neighborhoods are in harm's way.
Rain carried by Hurricane Irene's outer bands was reaching the southeastern part of North Carolina, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Zouzias. But the main thrust of the hurricane wasn't expected in North Carolina until sometime today.
Irene would be the strongest storm to strike the East Coast in seven years.
By late yesterday morning, Irene remained a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds near 169 kph. Little change in strength was expected by the time Irene reaches the North Carolina coast today, the National Hurricane Center said.
Speaking from his vacation rental on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, also in Irene's path, President Barack Obama urged Americans to heed instructions from state and local officials, especially if directed to evacuate.
Irene destroyed hundreds of homes on small Bahamian islands but largely spared the capital of Nassau as it tore over the sprawling archipelago on Thursday. Some small settlements reported up to 90 percent of their homes damaged. Assessments from other islands were not in because telephone lines were down.
North Carolina was just first in line along the US Eastern Seaboard – home to some of the nation's most heavily populated areas and some of its priciest real estate. Besides major cities, sprawling suburban bedroom communities, ports, airports, highway networks, cropland and mile after mile of beachfront neighborhoods are in harm's way.
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