East Coast braces for hurricane
Source: Agencies |
August 26, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OFFICIALS along the US East Coast have begun ordering an evacuation from barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina in anticipation of the first major hurricane to strike the region in seven years.
Tens of thousands of tourists on North Carolina's Outer Banks were told yesterday to cut vacations short and leave the exposed strip of coastal villages and beaches as Hurricane Irene approaches. Irene has already severely damaged dozens of homes in the southern Bahamas.
The US National Emergency Management Agency reported that a settlement known as Lovely Bay, on Acklins island in the Bahamas, was destroyed. The agency said at least 40 homes were badly damaged on the island of Mayaguana.
Trees were knocked down and streets flooded throughout the archipelago but there are no reports of deaths or injuries.
Hurricane Irene's wind weakened to about 185 kilometers per hour yesterday as the storm battered the island of Eleuthera. Winds in the capital of Nassau were not expected to exceed 105kph.
Forecasters said, however, that winds will climb quickly today and were expected to reach category 4 - 210 kph.
The evacuation order for North Carolina's string of barrier islands went into effect yesterday morning and officials estimated up to 150,000 tourists would be leaving. Authorities closed schools.
Irene is predicted to follow the East Coast, dumping rain from Virginia to New York before a much-weakened form reaches land in Connecticut.
Tens of thousands of tourists on North Carolina's Outer Banks were told yesterday to cut vacations short and leave the exposed strip of coastal villages and beaches as Hurricane Irene approaches. Irene has already severely damaged dozens of homes in the southern Bahamas.
The US National Emergency Management Agency reported that a settlement known as Lovely Bay, on Acklins island in the Bahamas, was destroyed. The agency said at least 40 homes were badly damaged on the island of Mayaguana.
Trees were knocked down and streets flooded throughout the archipelago but there are no reports of deaths or injuries.
Hurricane Irene's wind weakened to about 185 kilometers per hour yesterday as the storm battered the island of Eleuthera. Winds in the capital of Nassau were not expected to exceed 105kph.
Forecasters said, however, that winds will climb quickly today and were expected to reach category 4 - 210 kph.
The evacuation order for North Carolina's string of barrier islands went into effect yesterday morning and officials estimated up to 150,000 tourists would be leaving. Authorities closed schools.
Irene is predicted to follow the East Coast, dumping rain from Virginia to New York before a much-weakened form reaches land in Connecticut.
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