Current Radar Image of Irene 3:45 am

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Irene's Worst Clobbering the Mid-Atlantic Now, New York City by Sunrise

2 million along the east coast now without power due to Hurricane Irene.

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Irene's Worst Clobbering the Mid-Atlantic Now, New York City by Sunrise

Updated: Aug 28, 2011, 1:20 a.m. EDT

2 million along the east coast now without power due to Hurricane Irene.

NEW YORK (AP) -- A weakened but still dangerous Hurricane Irene shut down New York and menaced other cities more accustomed to snowstorms than tropical storms as it steamed up the East Coast on Saturday, unloading a foot of rain on North Carolina and Virginia and knocking out power to 2 million homes and businesses. At least eight people were killed. New York emptied its streets and subways and waited with an eerie quiet. Washington braced for the onslaught, too, as did Philadelphia, the New Jersey shore and the Boston metropolitan area. Packing wind gusts of 115 mph, the hurricane had an enormous wingspan - 500 miles - and threatened a swath of the nation inhabited by 65 million people. More: See what they're saying about Irene in New York City, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlantic City , and Boston on TWC Social. The hurricane stirred up seven-foot waves, and forecasters warned of storm-surge danger on the coasts of Virginia and Delaware, along the Jersey Shore and in New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. Across the Northeast, drenched by rain this summer, the ground is already saturated, raising the risk of flooding as well as the danger of trees falling onto homes and power lines. Irene made its official landfall just after first light near Cape Lookout, N.C., at the southern end of the Outer Banks, the ribbon of land that bows out into the Atlantic Ocean. While it was too early to assess the full extent of damage, shorefront hotels and houses were lashed with waves, two piers were destroyed and at least one hospital was forced to run on generator power. "Things are banging against the house," Leon Reasor said as he rode out the storm in the town of Buxton, N.C. "I just hate hurricanes." Eastern North Carolina got 10 to 14 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Virginia's Hampton Roads area was drenched with at least nine inches, with 16 reported in some spots. More: NC Storm Reports By late Saturday night, the storm had sustained winds of 80 mph, down from 100 mph on Friday. That made it a Category 1, the least threatening on a 1-to-5 scale, and barely stronger than a tropical storm. Nevertheless, it was still considered highly dangerous, capable of causing ruinous flooding across much of the East Coast with a combination of storm surge, high tides and 6 to 12 inches of rain. Irene was moving north-northeast at 16 mph, slightly faster than it had been earlier in the day, giving it somewhat less opportunity to dump on any particular area. But a typical hurricane would be moving much faster, 25 to 30 mph, said senior hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart of the National Hurricane Center. Moving slowly over the relatively colder water could weaken the storm, but Stewart said Irene will still likely be a hurricane when it makes landfall in the New York area around noon Sunday. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett warned that the state will not necessarily be out of danger once the storm has passed: "The rivers may not crest until Tuesday or Wednesday. This isn't just a 24-hour event." As of Saturday evening, Irene was hugging the U.S. coastline on a path that could scrape every state along the Eastern Seaboard. Ed Rappaport, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center in Florida, said it would be a "low-end hurricane, high-end tropical storm" by the time it crossed the New York City area late Sunday morning. The storm is so large that areas far from Irene's center are going to be feeling strong winds and getting large amounts of rain, he said. "It is a big, windy, rainy event," he said. The deaths blamed on Irene included two children, an 11-year-old boy in Virginia killed when a tree crashed through his roof and a North Carolina child who died in a crash at an intersection where traffic lights were out. Four other people were killed by falling trees or tree limbs - two in separate Virginia incidents, one in North Carolina and one in Maryland. A surfer and another beachgoer in Florida were killed in heavy waves. Power outages were concentrated in Virginia and North Carolina. Irene was the first hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States since 2008, and came almost six years to the day after Katrina ravaged New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005. Experts guessed that no other hurricane in American history had threatened as many people. North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue said Irene inflicted significant damage along her state's coast, but that some areas were unreachable because of high water or downed power lines. "Folks are cut off in parts of North Carolina, and obviously we're not going to get anybody to do an assessment until it's safe," she said. At least 2.3 million people were under orders to move to somewhere safer, though it was unclear how many obeyed or, in some cases, how they could. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told 6,500 troops from all branches of the military to get ready to pitch in on relief work, and President Barack Obama visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency's command center in Washington and offered moral support. "It's going to be a long 72 hours," he said, "and obviously a lot of families are going to be affected." In New York, authorities undertook the herculean job of bringing the city to a halt. The subway began shutting down at noon, the first time the system was closed because of a natural disaster. On Wall Street, sandbags were placed around subway grates near the East River because of fear of flooding. Tarps were spread over other grates. Construction stopped throughout the city, and workers at the site of the World Trade Center dismantled a crane and secured equipment. The city was far quieter than on an average Saturday. In some of the busiest parts of Manhattan, it was possible to cross a major avenue without looking, and the waters of New York Harbor, which might normally be churning from boat traffic, were quiet. About 370,000 people living in low-lying areas of the city, mostly in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, were under orders to clear out. "The time to leave is right now," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at an outdoor news conference at Coney Island, his shirt soaked from rain. The New York area's major airports - LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark - waved in their last arriving flights around noon. The Giants and Jets postponed their preseason NFL game, the Mets postponed two baseball games, and Broadway theaters were dark. New York has seen only a few hurricanes in the past 200 years. The Northeast is much more used to snowstorms - including the blizzard last December, when Bloomberg was criticized for a slow response. Airlines said 9,000 flights were canceled, including 3,000 on Saturday. The number of passengers affected could easily be millions because so many flights make connections on the East Coast. Greyhound suspended bus service between Richmond, Va., and Boston. Amtrak canceled trains in the Northeast for Sunday. In Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter declared a state of emergency, the first for the city since 1986, when racial tensions were running high. "We are trying to save lives and don't have time for silliness," he said. The storm arrived in Washington just days after an earthquake damaged some of the capital's most famous structures, including the Washington Monument. Irene could test Washington's ability to protect its national treasures and its poor. In New Jersey, the Oyster Creek nuclear plant, just a few miles from the coast, shut down as a precaution as Irene closed in. And Boston's transit authority said all bus, subway and commuter rail service would be suspended all day Sunday.

Irene: The Big Picture

Latest on Hurricane Irene Hurricane Tracker Tropics Now Hurricane Central

Irene: Affected Areas

Mid-Atlantic New England Northeast North Carolina Read more at www.weather.com

 

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Unnatural Affection and its end-time laws, an abominationto the Creator

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Unnatural Affection and its end-time laws, an abominationto the Creator  Written by Dionne Sabbay ThompsonJune 26, 2011On June 24 th 2011, New York State Lawmakers finalized the legalization of same-sexmarriage, affording Gay couples the “legal right” to be married. New York’s influence issaid to have a serious impact on the “gay rights movement”, and it is expected to causean increase in state-wide, same-sex marital support in the near future. Additionally,President Obama, (who historically has maintained a “lukewarm” or “neutral” stanceregarding this issue) has agreed to attend various fundraising events in Manhattandirectly related to same-sex marital issues. In the interest of success in the forthcoming2012 election, Obama is rumored to be emerging as a campaign strategist who is becoming more receptive to same-sex marital discussions.God calls his people out of ruins. Let us revisit the example of Lot, instructing his family to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, fleeing to the mountains, at God's warning; avoidingdestruction. Genesis 19:17 reveals the following: “and it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neitherstay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed”. We are truly in serious times, as was Lot and his family. It is clear that same-sex marriage is an“abomination” to God, and its  perversion will spread, causing iniquity to ripen and judgment will directly follow. While it is non-negotiable that Christians must love even the sinner, it must beacknowledged that same-sex marital unions are deeply rooted in evil and sin-sickness1Cor. 6:9. Satan has deceptively utilized God’s “rainbow promise” as a symbol of iniquitous disloyalty to God’s best intention regarding His directive to “be fruitful, andmultiply, and replenish the earth” Gen. 1:28, Desire of Ages p. 493 paragraph 2.Unnatural affection is highly iniquitous in the sight of our all-loving Creator Rom. 1:31,2Tim. 3:3. Consequently, mankind and its iniquities have reached unto heaven, leadinginto the  “Loud cry”  of the “Third angel's message”, directing God’s people to evacuateSpiritual Babylon with no exceptions Rev. 18:4-5. Anything outside of God’s will is

considered Spiritually Babylonian.  Video: Demon Possessed Gay Marriage Supporters Attack Elderly Woman in California (Palm Springs) Revelation 18:4 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”.Jacob’s Time of Trouble lies directly ahead Dan. 12:1. Regarding the Great Controversy  between good and evil, this battle of “principles” began in heaven Rev. 12:7-17. The war which Lucifer, renamed Satan, commenced in Heaven, will complete itself on earth.Satan’s creation of the “mystery of iniquity” resulted in “self-oriented” principles of government, which were later elected by Adam and Eve—voted in, by way of transgression, causing sin and iniquity to be concentrated on Earth Gen. 3:6, Rom. 5:12,2Thess. 2:7. When the wicked are separated from the mercy of God, every man becomes an enemy, asGod’s wrath will become fully developed, unmingled with mercy, as never witnessed before in the history of earth’s existence Eze. 9:3-6, Dan. 12:1, Rev. 14:9-11, 16:1-21.Similar to the Egyptian plagues during the times of the great Exodus, the “seven lastplagues” will be caused from man’s continual act of hardening their hearts, resulting indegeneration caused from the power of sin. Egypt oppressed God’s people, even after theMost High saved Egypt from starvation through the Prophet, Joseph Gen. 41:56-57.Since Pharaoh chose to oppress God’s people, the Most High bore long with Egypt untiliniquity became ripe, causing the Most High to separate from Pharaoh and judgmentfollowed Exo. chapters 9-13.The plagues that occurred in Egypt will be similar to what will occur in the end-time,however, the end time will be global, because the world at-large and its “New WorldOrder” will have rejected the Everlasting Gospel power of God Rom. 1:16-20. The lastinvitation of mercy is being presented now, and its rejection will cause probation to closefor the globe, followed by God’s separation from those who choose the government of “self” over God’s “merciful” government Rev. 14:17-20. With God there is no neutralground, therefore, anyone who is found in a “Laodicean state” will be “spued” out,electing the Mark of Beast, by default Rev. 3:14-21.Revelation 8:3-5 represents an administration of wrath, announcing the close of probation for the entire world Rev. 22:11-12. At this point, Christ will remove His HighPriestly garments, mercy will cease and judgment will follow. God’s four angels at thefour corners of the earth: east, west, north and south will then be directed to loose the winds of strife as by this time, all of the righteous will have been “sealed” Rev. 7:1-3.Thankfully, by then all of God’s “wheat” or “righteous” creations will have been gatheredinto the barn – see Matt. 13:30. As a word of reassurance, the Great Controversy p. 30reminds us that not one Christian perished at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.There will be two gatherings: Rev. 14 mentions a righteous and iniquitous harvest. God’smercy has been extended – Early Writings p. 36-38. We must not count the extension of God’s mercy as being untimely, but Christ has been incredibly patient and  merciful :

and, since 1844, God has bore long with His remnant - see Great Controversy p. 457.Therefore, Overcomers must become harvest-ripe  today manifesting Christ’s character(the fruit of the Holy Spirit) following the Lamb wherever He goes; hearing His voicetoday – see John 10:16, 27; Gal. 5:22-23, Rev. 14:1-5.Sadly Revelation 14:19 denotes a harvest of those that will have rejected the light of Godripening in iniquity, being cast into the great wine press of God’s wrath, corresponding with Rev. 8:3-5. Rev. 14:20 mentions the “wine press” being trodden without the city and the blood came out of the wine press. This last gathering in Rev. 14 represents those who are not apart of God’s remnant. Such a body of unrighteous believers will begathered, receiving the “wages of sin”, as they will be symbolically juiced and extractedonce probation is closed. The grapes will be mashed and the juice will run out of the winepress.Sadly the wicked have chosen to remain separate from God: and, He will not use force tosave them – Desire of Ages p. 22. The wine press’ blood represents a slaughter that willoccur during Jacob’s Time of Trouble, as the unrighteous will turn on each other andtheir false teachers. The weapons that the wicked plan to use to destroy God’s people will be turned on each other, their false teachers and apostate religious leaders – see GreatControversy p. 655 paragraph 4. The bloodshed will be unbearable, compared to winerunning out of a symbolic “winepress”. God will not be doing any destruction, nor willHis merciful angels. When the wicked are separated from the life-supporting mercy of God, every uncovered man will become an enemy, as God’s wrath will become fully developed, unmingled with mercy. “ At this time, mercy will have ceased and theheavenly administration will have changed, causing the execution of judgment, the MostHigh’s ‘strange act’ Isa. 28:21. For our eternally loving Father, “giving up” His creaturesto sinful destruction is a “strange act” Rom. 1:24, 26, 28, James 1:14-15,1John 4:16, 1:5. ‘How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?...’, ‘I will not execute the fiercenessof mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city’” Hosea 11:8, 9 – A Soul Sealedat Character Perfection p. 38."For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ourLord" Rom. 6:23 . At the Second Advent, Christ will return, having nothing to do withdestruction or sin, as He will be returning to reap His righteous harvest/remnant Mark 4:29, Rev. 14:14-16. “The Life-giver is coming to break the fetters of the tomb. He is to bring forth the captives and proclaim, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’" The Faith ILive by p. 181. God the “Consuming Fire” will consume sin and it will be cleansed fromthe earth never to arise again, Hallelujah Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29. Buy it today! A Soul Sealed at Character Perfection   Character Purity Ministries , located in Pelham, New York (Westchester County),aims to edify the globe about the Three Angels' Messages, the Loud cry and all relevantend-time present Truth, as Christ's return is imminent: and, He hopes to cut His work short in righteousness Rom. 9:28; Rev. 14:6-12, 18:1-4. Read more at www.scribd.com

 

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Hurricane Irene: Evacuation Route Maps Here is a list of resources for Evacuation Route Maps for the regions expected to be affected by Hurricane Irene: South Carolina Statewide Routes North Carolina Statewide Routes Mid-Atlantic Baltimore, MD Delaware: Southern Peninsula Delaware: Delmarva Peninsula Virginia Washington, DC Northeast Connecticut New Jersey New York Nassau County, Long Island, NY Philadelphia, PA New England Boston, MA Rhode Island Related Content: The Latest on Hurricane Irene Track Hurricane Irene Read more at www.weather.com

 

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INTENSE HAARP RING in Hurricane Irene = weather modification

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8/26/2011 -- INTENSE HAARP RING in Hurricane Irene = weather modification

links to several RADAR systems: 3D RADAR: http://www.intelliweather.com/Broadcast.htm http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMapFull.aspx http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php http://weather.cod.edu/satrad/index.php http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMapFull.aspx http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/satellite/ssec/world...... http://squall.sfsu.edu/crws/archive/satimgs_month_arch.html http://nmq.ou.edu/ http://wdssii.nssl.noaa.gov/web/wdss2/products/radar/rcon... http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/tropicalwx/satpix/nwpac_ir4_l... http://www.inmet.gov.br/html/observacoes.php http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/ http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/enhanced.php?map=2 http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/wxnet/radsat.php http://vortex.plymouth.edu/nids.html http://www.accuweather.com http://weather.utah.edu/index.php?runcode=2011071812&...... http://www.atmos.washington.edu/weather/radar.shtml http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display_alt.cgi?a=glob_250 http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/aviation/tuesdayusje... http://weather.engin.umich.edu/wxnet/servers.php http://www.woweather.com/cgi-app/satellite?CONT=usus&... http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GSSLOOPS/ecwv.html http://livewxradar.com/ http://socc.caps.ou.edu/ http://www.weather.gov http://radar.srh.noaa.gov/ Links explaining all the science behind "HAARP" and weather modification: http://www.dutchsinse.com/blog/?p=660 pictures of differnt HAARP rings and how they appear on RADAR: http://www.dutchsinse.com/blog/?p=605

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8/26/2011 -- INTENSE HAARP RING in Hurricane Irene = weather modification

President declares federal emergency for New York state



He warns U.S. is about to experience 'historic hurricane'



Five main New York City airports on lockdown from midday Saturday



Hurricane claims first American casualties as eight injured in south Florida



6ft to 9ft waves hit North Carolina coast ahead of Saturday touchdown



Mayor Bloomberg tells people in Coney Island and Far Rockaway to find somewhere else to stay in case vicious storm hits New York



Calls for people immediately to flee Jersey Shore ahead of storm's progression up East Coast to New York on Sunday



States of emergency declared in six states - New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware

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Thousands of New Yorkers ordered to leave homes as city's ENTIRE public transport system closes before Hurricane Irene hits

President declares federal emergency for New York state He warns U.S. is about to experience 'historic hurricane' Five main New York City airports on lockdown from midday Saturday Hurricane claims first American casualties as eight injured in south Florida 6ft to 9ft waves hit North Carolina coast ahead of Saturday touchdown Mayor Bloomberg tells people in Coney Island and Far Rockaway to find somewhere else to stay in case vicious storm hits New York Calls for people immediately to flee Jersey Shore ahead of storm's progression up East Coast to New York on Sunday States of emergency declared in six states - New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware

By Mark Duell, Laurie Whitwell and Paul Bentley

New York is facing an unprecedented hurricane shutdown as officials ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and a full closure of the city’s public transport network.

The sensational news comes as storm experts and politicians today laid out an apocalyptic warning of what will happen to Manhattan if Hurricane Irene makes a direct hit on New York City.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the entire subway, bus and MTA train network will be shut down from midday Saturday, while aviation officials announced the five main New York City-area airports will be closed to arriving passenger flights from the same time, ahead of the storm's anticipated impact on Sunday.

Shutting up shop: Workers on Broadway in Manhattan begin boarding up windows, including this one outside Uniqlo, in preparation for Hurricane Irene

Getting out of Dodge: Ralph Lauren, left, and Steven Spielberg, right, were both pictured on Friday boarding helicopters out of New York City

Dangerous location: Strong waves and a storm surge begin to wash beneath oceanfront homes with the arrival of Hurricane Irene in Rodanthe, North Carolina, on Friday

Gone baby gone: Paramedics and EMTs load an incubator holding a baby into an ambulance on Friday after NYU Langone Medical Center was ordered to evacuate about 400 patients

Out of stock: A shopper passes empty shelves while looking for bottled water at a supermarket in Long Beach on Long Island, New York, as cities along the East Coast were on high alert

Experts spelled out fears of grounded transport, floods in the city and smashed skyscraper windows - as President Barack Obama warned the U.S. is about to experience 'a historic hurricane'.

President Obama has now declared an emergency for New York state, which means the state can receive federal aid to supplement state and local emergency and clean-up assistance.

Mayor Bloomberg warned New Yorkers there will be an unprecedented mandatory evacuation of 'Zone A' coastal areas and rest of the Rockaways in 'Zone B' (scroll down for map) by 5pm Saturday.

'We've never done a mandatory evacuation before in any part of this city. The sun is shining but don't be misled - there's a very dangerous storm headed in our direction'

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Around 250,000 people will be evacuated from Zone A areas. The city will be able to shelter around 70,000 people and hopes the rest will stay with family and friends in safer areas.

'We're going to get hit with some wind and high water that is going to be very dangerous. It's heading basically directly towards us.'

Warning: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a City Hall press conference on Hurricane Irene on Friday, as the city braces for what could be its first direct hit by a hurricane in decades

Concerns: President Obama said that Hurricane Irene threatens to be 'historic', as he spoke from his vacation home on Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Wheeled out: People evacuate Coney Island Hospital due to the impending Hurricane Irene, which is expected to make landfall in New York City this week

Stocking up: People shop at a grocery store in Coney Island before the arrival of Hurricane Irene this weekend

The five main New York City-area airport be closed to arriving passenger flights beginning from noon on Saturday, Aviation officials said on Friday.

The suspension affects John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports. It applies to domestic and international flights.

Almost 100 emergency facilities will be opened in the city this afternoon and bridges will be closed if there is danger of vehicles falling off them.

Mayor Bloomberg urged New Yorkers to stay indoors from Saturday 9pm to Sunday 9pm so they avoid potential injury from glass, trees or debris.

Transport services may not be restored in time for Monday morning, so many employees of businesses may enjoy a long weekend if they cannot get into work after the weekend.

‘This is very serious - you just can't wait until gale force winds arrive, you have to start your preparations now,' Mayor Bloomberg explained.

'The danger is great - the likelihood of tragedies exists,' he said, warning that if New Yorkers do not follow mandatory evacuation orders, 'people might die'. 'It's a matter of life and death,' he added.

Protection: Barry Tischler and his wife Susan Tischler move some plywood sheets to board up store fronts on Washington Mall in Cape May, New Jersey, on Friday in preparation for Hurricane Irene

Getaway: Sport utility vehicles pulling pleasure boats drive in lines of traffic headed north on the Garden State Parkway on Friday, near Ocean City, New Jersey, as much of the Jersey shore evacuates

Pick up: Town workers remove a parking hut near the beach in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, on Friday

Bracing: Michael Simpson paddles out to surf near a beachside fishing pier on Friday, the day before the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Tens of thousands of Americans are fleeing the East Coast as a leading expert warned Hurricane Irene would cause a 'nightmare scenario' when it makes landfall further south tomorrow morning.

Around 65million people are in the path of the storm which has weakened slightly to a Category 2 with 110mph winds as it approaches the East Coast.

But experts warn re-strengthening is possible and the storm is expected to be near the threshold between a Category 2 and 3 storm when it finally reaches the U.S.

With New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware all declaring states of emergency the cost of the hurricane would be vast.

Many residents of New York and New Jersey are not used to storms like this striking their shores.

Popular Mechanics magazine has analysed what may happen, and claims 100mph counter-clockwise winds could dump 500 million tons of seawater directly into New York Harbor.

A storm surge could grow up to 15ft high and 2,900 miles of roads in the Brooklyn and Queens regions would be flooded, while the subway would flood in around 40 minutes.

What has hit New York City in the past?

A major hurricane in 1821 was one of the only ones believed to have ever passed directly over modern New York City.

The tide rose 13ft in just one hour and caused the East River to meet the Hudson River across lower Manhattan as far north as Canal Street, which covered all of the modern-day financial district.

Then 117 years later in 1938 a Category 3 hurricane killed 10 people in the city, electricity was knocked out from 59th Street of Manhattan up to the Bronx and the subway lost power.

Apt sign: A tourist walks on the usually crowded boardwalk, on Friday, in Ocean City, Maryland, where the local mayor Rick Meehan has ordered a mandatory evacuation for thousands of residents

Not again: A plywood shutter, covering a window of a beachside house, shares a message from a community preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, on Friday

Scary: An image provided by NASA shows Hurricane Irene from the International Space Station on Wednesday afternoon. The image, captured with a 38mm lens, reveals the eye of the storm at centre

Direction: The hurricane is affecting most of the U.S. East Coast and will head north towards New York

Three tunnels linking Manhattan to New Jersey and New York’s boroughs would also flood, while a million people would lose electricity. A Category 3 storm would put JFK Airport under 19ft of water.

'You need to listen to your state and local officials. If you're in the way of this hurricane you should be preparing now. If you're instructed to evacuate please do so'

President Barack Obama

‘We've been very, very lucky because we haven't had that (direct hit),’ Cynthia Rosenzweig, of the NASA Goddard Institute in New York, said. ‘But the potential vulnerability for that is very high.’

Workers would spend weeks pumping water out of transport tunnels and the salt could corrode power lines, transformers and switches on train lines, reported Popular Mechanics.

New York City officials are preparing for the total shut-down of the nation's largest mass transit system on Saturday afternoon, with service potential not available again until Monday.

Officials say the system can't be safely operated with sustained winds of 39mph or more and it will take at least eight hours to move all equipment from low-lying storage areas and secure trains.

Up we go: Land Crewman Christopher Bird directs as they pull a sail boat out of the water at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, as Hurricane Irene moves up the US East Coast

Flood preparations: Beach workers fill sand bags on Long Beach on Long Island, New York, on Friday

Waves: People surf at Rockaway Beach in New York, as millions of beach goers cut short vacations to escape the powerful storm

Taking to water: People surf at Rockaway Beach in New York, as North Carolina braced on Friday for a direct hit from Hurricane Irene, and cities along the East Coast were on alert

President Barack Obama addressed the nation today, urging Americans to 'take the storm seriously' and warning it is set to be 'a historic hurricane'.

‘We've been very, very lucky because we haven't had that (direct hit). But the potential vulnerability for that is very high'

Cynthia Rosenzweig, of the NASA Goddard Institute in New York

'You need to listen to your state and local officials,' he said. 'If you're in the way of this hurricane you should be preparing now. If you're instructed to evacuate please do so.'

He said disaster response agencies have millions of litres of water, millions of meals and tens of thousands of cots and blankets - and the Red Cross has begun preparing shelters in North Carolina.

'The more you can do to be prepared now, the quicker we can focus our resources after the storm on those who need them the most,' Mr Obama added.

Heightened waves of 6ft to 9ft have already started hitting North Carolina's coast, which is first in line and home to some of America’s most heavily populated areas and priciest real estate.

Stranded: A man walks along a seaside park as Hurricane Irene passes to the east of Nassau on New Providence Island in the Bahamas

What New York could look like: This graphic on CNN showed how Hurricane Irene could devastate Manhattan with floods

Past times: In 1938 a Category 3 hurricane killed 10 people in New York City, electricity was knocked out from 59th Street of Manhattan up to the Bronx and the subway lost power

Humour in the face of disaster: Residents board up their homes in preparation for Hurricane Irene

'One of my greatest nightmares was having a major hurricane go up the whole Northeast Coast,' said Max Mayfield, ex-chief of the National Hurricane Center. 'This is going to have an impact on the United States economy.'

Millions of energy customers are at risk of long-lasting power outages as strong winds and heavy rains threaten utility wires and poles.

The storm, with winds of 115mph, would be the strongest to strike the East Coast in seven years, and people are already getting out of the way.

Tens of thousands fled North Carolina beach towns, farmers pulled up their crops, and the Navy ordered ships to sea so they could endure the punishing wind and waves in open water.

There were reports last night of gas stations going dry and ATMs running out of cash as cars went bumper to bumper on highways in a slow-motion scramble to heed forecasters' warnings.

With New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware all declaring states of emergency the cost of the hurricane would be vast.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said damages could exceed most previous storms because so many people live along the East Coast and property values are high.

'We've got a lot more people that are potentially in the path of this storm,' FEMA Director Craig Fugate said. 'This is one of the largest populations that will be impacted by one storm at one time.'

Satellite image released today of the hurricane as it makes its way towards the East Coast

Here it comes: Cory Ritz braces himself as a wave bursts onto a pier at the Boynton Beach inlet on August 25, 2011 in Boynton Beach, Florida

Grid lock: Cars last night clog the roadway to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel in Norfolk, Virginia as Hurricane Irene approaches

The storm would 'have a lot of impact well away from the coastline,' he added. 'A little bit of damage over big areas with large populations can add up fast.'

Utility officials and weather forecasters said last night that Hurricane Irene threatens to deliver long-lasting power outages to millions of customers along the East Coast.

An unusually large number of people may be affected by the storm because it is forecast to stay just offshore - and thus retain much of its power - as it inches up from North Carolina to New England.

High winds are the biggest threat to utility wires and poles. Flooding can cause problems for power plants, which are often located near rivers or other bodies of water.

Panic: Shoppers in New York stock up on supplies in preparation for the storm

'It's going to be really tough,' said Karen Johnson, a spokesperson for PSE&G, which serves 2.2million customers in New Jersey. She recommended customers stock up on supplies of food and water before the storm hits.

'You could conceivably have millions of people without power,' said Matt Rogers, President of Commodity Weather Group, which forecasts weather effects on businesses.

The warnings came after Hurricane Irene claimed its first American casualties with eight people injured in South Florida.

Authorities said the rough ocean churned up by the outer swirls of the powerful storm caused a wave that knocked over eight people, nearly drowning one, while they walked on a jetty off Boynton Beach Inlet.

High risk: Graphic shows that the entire East Coast is at set to take a battering from the hurricane

The coast is being battered by extremely high winds this morning

Shop owner Michelle Palazzolo makes a light-hearted joke about Irene as she boards up her shop last night in Avon, North Carolina. The hurricane is expected to hit the area on Saturday

Palm Beach County officials say one person was taken to a hospital, while seven others were treated at the scene.

The incident came as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday issued a stark warning to residents of the city over Irene.

As the storm devastated the Bahamas, caused panic in North Carolina and threatened to continue its path of destruction right through to America's most populous city, Mayor Bloomberg urged hundreds of thousands of residents in low-lying areas to line up a place to stay on high ground ahead of a possible evacuation this weekend.

Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that he expected to make a decision by late today on whether residents in the city's so-called 'Zone-A' would need to evacuate ahead of the storm that's now expected to hit the city on Sunday.

That zone includes neighbourhoods along the coast, including Battery Park City in Manhattan, Coney Island in Brooklyn and Far Rockaway in Queens.

He added that he has the power to issue an executive order to force people to move, which he insisted would only be implemented in the 'worst circumstances'.

Such an order would affect 270,000 people, he said.

Emergency kit: A woman looks at kits containing a generator, a five-gallon gas container and a power cord at a Home Depot store in Kitty Hawk in the North Carolina Outerbanks

Warning: Mayor Bloomberg said people living in Coney Island and Far Rockaway should prepare for evacuation

The Mayor also advised the public to prepare 'go-bags' - containing water, medication, non-perishable foods and valuables - in case they have to evacuate. Mayor Bloomberg's comments came a few hours before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency. ‘In this emergency I am activating all levels of state government to prepare for any situation that may be caused by Hurricane Irene,’ he said. ‘We are communicating with our federal and local partners to track the storm and to plan a coordinated response, and we will deploy resources as needed to the areas expected to be hit the hardest.' He added: 'I urge New Yorkers to personally prepare for hurricane conditions and to cooperate with emergency officials if needed. By working together, we will all be able to face this storm in a calm and organised manner.’ New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also signed a state of emergency in advance of the hurricane.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also signed a state of emergency in advance of the hurricane.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also signed a state of emergency in advance of the hurricane. Enlarge   Orange: All those in Zone A, or the areas of New York shaded orange, face evacuation

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE FORCED TO EVACUATE YOUR HOME

If an evacuation order is made by the Mayor for specific zones, residents must leave their homes immediately. - Plan to use mass transit as much as possible, as it offers the fastest way to reach your destination and reduces the risk of traffic delays. - Listen carefully to your local news media, which will broadcast reports about weather and transportation conditions. - Leave early. Evacuations will need to be completed before winds and flooding become a threat. - If you have to take a car, be prepared for a long, slow trip. Stay tuned to local media for information about road and bridge closures and only stop at marked Evacuation Centers. -  In any significant rainstorm, avoid driving through standing water if you cannot tell how deep it is. Source:nyc.gov

At a news conference this afternoon he urged people to leave the New Jersey Shore for fear of 'some significant problems'.

The declaration clears the way for the state to deploy resources, such as the National Guard, to counties and municipalities as they prepare for the storm.

Christie said the current track calls for New Jersey to face a 'serious, significant event.'

The governor is considering mandatory evacuations. In the meantime, he asked people not to go to the Jersey shore this weekend and for those with rental properties to leave Thursday or Friday.

'Do not try to ride it out. It is not the smart thing to do,' he added.

As residents across the East Coast have been evacuated for their safety, meteorologists suggested the hurricane could develop in one of two ways.

With the possibility of it moving out to the Atlantic fading CBS News Hurricane Consultant David Bernard said either it will hit Long Island and New England as a strong Category Two storm, causing huge power disruption and wind damage - or the storm will smash New York City full on, causing unprecedented damage and bringing with it utter panic to the city.

The economic repercussions of the hurricane hitting New York with heavy rain and more than 100mph winds would be catastrophic considering how densely populated the city is and the fact that it is not used to dealing with major storms.

In New York, which is the most heavily populated U.S. city, with 8.2 million residents, officials are so concerned they have opened an emergency operations centre in Brooklyn.

It is considered a 'strong possibility' that the storm 'could impact New York City or Long Island directly,' according to the National Weather Service

The last hurricane to strike the U.S. was Ike in 2008. The Category Two storm petered out, however, veering offshore by Galveston, Texas.

Getting ready: Stuart Savage, left, and Rob Melby board up windows of their beachside property as they prepare for Hurricane Irene in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Warning: The Bahamas faces the wrath of the terrifying Huuicane Irene

Wilma, in 2005, was the most recent major hurricane to hit America, bringing with it winds of 111mph.

Hurricane Irene, which is currently battering the Bahamas, wrecking beaches and causing panic among American tourists, is expected to gain strength as it leaves the island.

The National Hurricane Centre warned the powerful Category Three hurricane will ramp up quickly over the next day, blowing into a monstrous Category 4 with winds of at least 131 mph as it races across open waters.

It is storm is expected to clip North Carolina's jutting Outer Banks region on Saturday and after that, forecasters see it hugging the U.S. eastern seaboard, swirling rains and winds across several hundred miles as it churns northward toward New England.

Stuck: A man tries to cross the Sanchez bridge which was closed by Dominican Army, in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic

DISASTER SUPPLY KIT Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days — non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices — foods for infants or the elderly — snack foods — non-electric can opener — cooking tools / fuel — paper plates / plastic utensils Blankets / Pillows, etc Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs Special Items - for babies and the elderly Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes Flashlight / Batteries Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods Keys Toys, Books and Games Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc Tools - keep a set with you during the storm Vehicle fuel tanks filled Pet care items — proper identification / immunisation records / medications — ample supply of food and water — a carrier or cage — muzzle and leash  source:nhc.noaa.gov

'Irene is a massive hurricane and that’s what’s so bad for the Bahamas,' Dave Samuel, a meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc., said yesterday. 'We’re just watching it decimating Crooked Island of the Bahamas. It is moving slow and it is huge.'

Despite the warnings, Mayor Bloomberg spoke today to reassure New York residents that the city was capable of dealing with the storm.

He said contingency plans should be made by residents in low lying areas but insisted the city's 'big buildings are built to withstand strong winds'.

He added that the city has crews working to clean out catch basins to help with street drainage. It has also moved police boats to station houses in low-lying areas, hired emergency forest contractors and topped off emergency generators with fuel in preparation for the worst.

Mayor Bloomberg met with city officials yesterday to prepare emergency plans. The storm is expected to hit New York late on Sunday night, flooding streets, downing power lines and causing debris to fly across the city, thrown by fierce winds.

After an earthquake earlier this week, Mayor Bloomberg said: 'Things happen in the city. Quite honestly, I am more concerned about our preparations for a hurricane that's approaching.

'Everyone should keep an eye on the storm and pay attention to the office emergency management when they put out some advisories on what we should prepare for as we get closer to the potential storm.'

He added that the city is 'hoping for the best, preparing for the worst.'

In North Carolina, Governor Bev Perdue warned residents to 'prepare for the worst' as the huge hurricane threatened to strike.

A mandatory evacuation order has already been issued for all non-residents in Dare County and Outer Banks beaches, affecting an estimated 150,000 holidaymakers.

But Mrs Perdue also warned residents to get out of the way of the massive hurricane, which was expected to increase in intensity as it approaches the U.S. mainland today.

Drenched: Hurricane Irene has continued to strengthen as it has raged over the Caribbean

Battered: A boat hits against the seawall as bands of rain and wind from Hurricane Irene hit Nassau, on New Providence Island in the Bahamas

Mrs Perdue said: 'Get your evacuation kit ready. Get your medicines ready. Take your insurance documents, and have a plan to get out if you need to. Treat this seriously, but then pray real hard that North Carolina will be fine.'

'The exact centre of the storm may become a big threat for New England and perhaps Long Island,' U.S. National Hurricane Center director Bill Read said. 'Be advised, it's going to be a very large circulation as it moves north of the Carolinas.'

Evacuations began on a tiny barrier island off North Carolina's coast as Hurricane Irene strengthened to a major Category 3 storm yesterday.

Residents are allowed to stay in their homes for now, but they have been strongly advised to make necessary preparations for a large storm.

Irene's maximum sustained winds have already increased to near 115mph and it’s likely to be Category 4 by the time it hits mainland U.S.

The evacuation in North Carolina was a test of whether people in the crosshairs of the first major hurricane along the east coast in years would heed orders to get out of the way.

The first ferry to leave Ocracoke Island arrived at 5.30am yesterday in nearby Hatteras with around a dozen cars on board – but it won’t be easy to get thousands of people off as they can only leave by boat.

The 16-mile-long barrier island is home to about 800 year-round residents and a tourist population that swells into the thousands when vacationers rent rooms and cottages.

Ghost town: A truck drives through a deserted street as the storm hits the Bahamas

Destructive: Hurricane Irene downed trees as it passed through to the east of Nassau on New Providence Island in the Bahamas

BAHAMAS DESERTED AS IRENE PASSES BY

Beaches on the Bahamas have been blocked off and most tourists have left on ships or planes before Hurricane Irene paid a visit. Local shop owners secured their buildings with shutters and tape but insisted they were prepared after previous experiences of major storms. ‘It takes a matter of 10 minutes to do a window because we've done it so often,’ shop owner Brian Nottage told CNN.

Newly-wed Jennifer Baharek, 23, of Torrington, Connecticut, got off the next ferry. She and her husband, Andrew, were married on Monday and planned to spend their honeymoon on the island.

‘We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation,’ she said.

Even if Irene does not make landfall, forecasters and emergency management officials said it would still have plenty of power to cause wind damage, flooding and storm surges along the coast.

Meteorologists measured winds with hurricane force, more than 73 mph, extending 60 miles from Irene's eye.

Federal officials have warned Irene could cause flooding, power outages or worse all along the east coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore.

President Barack Obama is due to finish his east coast holiday at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts this Saturday, but his advisers say there are no plans to change this return date.

However the White House is urging people living in the path of the hurricane to follow the advice of state and local officials, who are co-ordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The projected path has gradually shifted to the east, though Irene is still expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in North Carolina over the weekend, before trudging northward.

People as far north as New England have been told to prepare for the storm. When asked about concerns preparing the northeast for a hurricane, Tuesday’s earthquake was cited.

‘It's a reminder that we don't always get to pick the next disaster,’ Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told ABC’s Good Morning America.

In North Carolina, the state-run ferry service off Ocracoke Island would be free during the evacuation, but no reservations were allowed. Boats can carry no more than 50 vehicles at a time.

The island is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, a roughly 200-mile stretch of fragile barrier islands off the state's coast.

Pristine beaches and wild mustangs attract thousands of tourists each year.

Aside from Ocracoke, the other islands are accessible by bridges to the mainland and ferries. The limited access can make the evacuation particularly tense.

All the barrier islands have the geographic weakness of jutting out into the Atlantic like the side-view mirror of a car, a location that's frequently been in the path of destructive storms over the decades.

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