Hurricane Irene getting closer to U.S. eastern seaboard
Posted Aug 26, 2011 05:43:30 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The U.S. eastern seaboard is trembling as residents watch Hurricane Irene churn closer to the coast, sending people fleeing for higher ground.
Irene is now a category two hurricane as it has slightly weakened overnight.
It has forced U.S. president Barack Obama to make the preemptive move of declaring an emergency for North Carolina where the storm is expected to plow ashore.
Packing the punch of winds topping 185 kilometres an hour, Hurricane Irene has sparked hurricane watches and warnings up the Atlantic coast.
Residents and tourists have been flooding out of the area and heading for higher ground, and as far north as New York City, they are taking no chances with this one.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered the evacuation of hospitals and vulnerable institutions, like nursing homes in low lying areas.
The Ottawa area could receive visit from Irene as well depending when the storm strikes land.
Late Sunday and early Monday, eastern Ontario and west Quebec could get heavy rain and strong winds if the remnants of the storm make it this fall inland.
