One Dead as Hurricane Irene Hits the East Coast
MIAMI (AP) — Forecasters say tropical storm conditions are spreading into Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Hurricane Irene is still hitting eastern North Carolina with heavy rain and wind, but those conditions are spreading north. The National Hurricane Center says tropical storm-force winds of more than 39 mph extend some 260 miles from Irene’s eye. Top winds remain around 85 mph.
NAGS HEAD, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Irene has been giving the North Carolina coast a battering. It hit the shore this morning, with gusts as high as 94 mph recorded in the Outer Banks. Hundreds of thousands are without power and there’s been flooding in a number of communities. Authorities say one man was struck and killed outside his home by a falling tree limb.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s biggest utility says it could cut power to the city’s most vulnerable areas if Hurricane Irene brings serious flooding tomorrow. Consolidated Edison says it doesn’t expect to cut power before the storm hits, but flooding could cause severe damage to underground cables, transformers and other equipment if power were left on. A shutdown would allow for quicker, safer repairs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has gotten a fresh update on Hurricane Irene from his emergency management team. He’s asking to be kept alerted to developments throughout the day and overnight as the storm makes it way up the East Coast. The White House says Obama made clear that the hurricane’s impact will be felt throughout the weekend and beyond and the government stands ready to aid states and communities in the storm’s path. Among those on the conference call on Saturday morning were Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Craig Fugate. They updated the president on the storm’s intensity, its anticipated track and the resources in position along the East Coast ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
NEW YORK (AP) — Travelers across the country are facing days of grief ahead as thousands of flights are being cancelled because of Hurricane Irene. Airlines are scrapping more than 8,300 flights this weekend, grounding passengers as Irene sweeps up the East Coast. All New York City-area airports will be closed to arriving flights beginning at noon on Saturday, when the city’s public transportation system shuts down. The biggest airlines, United Continental Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., canceled thousands of flights each. The airlines declined to say how many passengers would be affected by the hurricane. Bus and train service has also been hit. Greyhound has suspended service between Richmond, Va. and Boston. Amtrak is reducing its Northeast schedule on Saturday and cancelling all trains from Washington to Boston on Sunday