Irene: State-by-state look at dangers, prep
Here is a state-by-state glance on how Hurricane Irene is predicted to strike states all along the Eastern Seaboard as of Friday afternoon:
CONNECTICUT
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall on Sunday somewhere between New Jersey and Cape Cod.
— Hurricane warnings have not been issued.
— Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.
— Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991.
DELAWARE
— Hurricane warning statewide
— Flood watch in effect
— Storm center to pass near the New Jersey/Delaware coast around 8 a.m. Sunday.
— Governor orders mandatory evacuation of coastal areas by 9 a.m. Saturday
— Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
— State will open shelters in all three counties on Friday.
MAINE
— Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England Sunday night.
— Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
— No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
— Lobstermen began moving their fishing gear farther offshore to avoid damage amid expectations of 30-foot seas.
MARYLAND
— Hurricane warning for St. Mary's County and Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Potomac River.
— Tropical storm warning for Baltimore to Eastern Shore to D.C. suburbs.
— Flash flood watch in Baltimore-Washington metro region and southern Maryland.
— Mandatory evacuations ordered for Ocean City and coastal Worcester County.
— Governor declared emergency.
— Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
— Assateague State Park closing until Wednesday; most state park campgrounds closed.
MASSACHUSETTS
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall in southern New England on Sunday. They say they are unable to determine where it would hit land first because forecasts show that could be anywhere between New Jersey and Cape Cod.
— Hurricane warnings have not been issued in the state. A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast line to the mouth of the Merrimack River.
— Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.
— Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991.
— Red Cross is pre-positioning emergency response vehicles, mobilizing trained disaster workers and preparing supplies in case they are needed.
— Boston's largest homeless shelter is also beginning to warn people living in the streets about the approaching hurricane. Pine Street Inn is also preparing to open its doors around the clock from Saturday afternoon through Monday, and it is strongly urging the homeless to come in for safety.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
— Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England Sunday night.
— Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
— No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
— Governor directed state Emergency Operations Center to be opened.
— The Red Cross plans to open four shelters.
— Organizers of the annual Hampton Beach Talent Competition condensed the three-night schedule to two, telling competitors "it's one song for all the marbles."
NEW JERSEY
— Forecasters predicted storm would pass over, or more likely, near New Jersey by midday Sunday.
— Hurricane warning in effect for coastal and southern counties.
— Mandatory evacuations ordered for nearly 1 million visitors and residents of Cape May County, coastal Atlantic County and Long Beach Island.
— Governor declared emergency for the state.
— New Jersey Transit trains to shut down Saturday.
— Last hurricane to directly hit the state was remnants of Hurricane Floyd, which caused major flooding inland in 1999.
— Atlantic City casinos shutting down for only the third time since gambling was legalized 33 years ago.
NEW YORK
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall Sunday as a Category 1 storm between New Jersey and Cape Cod.
— Nearly 300,000 people who live in flood-prone areas of New York City were ordered in an unprecedented decision to evacuate.
— Subways, buses and commuter trains in New York City, on Long Island and in the northern suburbs will begin their final runs around noon Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
— The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane watch and a flood watch for Long Island, New York City and Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties.
— The governor declared a state of emergency and the state's Office of Emergency Management has increased staffing in its underground bunker.
— Last hurricane to hit was Hurricane Gloria in 1985 on Long Island as a Category 2 storm with winds gusts of up to 100 mph. Since then, numerous remnants of hurricanes that have struck the state.
— The governor says New York City's public transit will halt around noon Saturday because of the hurricane.
NORTH CAROLINA
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall Saturday morning east of Morehead City. Early storm surge prediction of up to 11 feet in Pamlico Sound and up to 9 feet along Outer Banks.
— Hurricane warning for entire coast.
— Governor and president declared emergency for the state.
— Evacuations ordered for all of the Outer Banks as well as inland Currituck County, Dare County, Hyde County and low-lying areas of Beaufort County. Voluntary evacuation requested for New Hanover County.
— Last hurricane to hit was Isabel in 2003.
— The Red Cross is opening eight shelters for people who need them. Nearly 50 other shelters ready to open as needed.
PENNSYLVANIA
— Hurricane warnings are in effect for Philadelphia and Delaware counties, with tropical storm warnings in effect for three other suburban counties.
— Gov. Tom Corbett has declared state of emergency in advance of expected arrival of wind and rain.
— Although the exact track of the storm is uncertain, tropical storm conditions could begin as early as Saturday afternoon.
— Irene is expected to bring a half-foot or more of rain to already sodden communities. Before storms associated with Irene have arrived Philadelphia has already set an all-time single-month record for rain with more than 13 inches.
— The mayor says mass transit in suburban Philadelphia, will halt at 12:30 a.m. Sunday because of the hurricane.
— Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.
— Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
— Flood and flash flood watches are in effect for nine other counties in eastern Pennsylvania through Sunday.
RHODE ISLAND
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall on Sunday evening. Six-to-10 inches of rain expected to fall beginning as early as Saturday night.
— Gov. Lincoln Chafee has declared a state of emergency.
— Hurricane watch issued Friday for much of the state. Tropical storm watch for portions of two inland counties.
— No mandatory evacuations.
— Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991, which made landfall twice.
SOUTH CAROLINA
— Forecasters predict Irene to be about 140 miles east of Myrtle Beach late Friday night.
— Tropical storm warnings issued from Edisto Island north to North Carolina state line.
— No mandatory evacuations ordered.
— Last hurricane to hit was Charley in 2004.
— Downtown Charleston reported 49 mph wind gust just before noon Friday.
— Wind gusts of up to and as much as of rain expected around Myrtle Beach.
— About 3,500 customers without power along coast late Friday morning as outer bands of storm approach.
VERMONT
— Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England Sunday night.
— Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
— No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
— Parts of the state hard-hit by Memorial Day weekend flash flooding were bracing for another round.
VIRGINIA
— Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall at 2 a.m. Sunday.
— Hurricane watch for coast.
— Mandatory evacuations ordered for the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach, a barrier island dotted with rentals, Accomack on the Eastern Shore, and for low-lying areas of Norfolk and Hampton.
— Governor declared emergency.
— Last hurricane to hit the state was Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
— The cities of Norfolk, Virginia beach and Hampton are opening shelters on Friday.
— The Navy ordered the Second Fleet out to sea to escape the storm.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
— Washington Mayor Vincent Gray says he will declare a state of emergency for the nation's capital ahead of Irene.
— Tropical storm warning
— No mandatory evacuations ordered.
— Last hurricane to hit was Hazel in 1954.
— Approach of hurricane forced postponement of Sunday's dedication of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
— Impending storm prompts Walter Reed Army Medical Center to accelerate transfer of last remaining patients to new facility in Bethesda, Md.
