In a conference call Thursday the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate warned that the entire East Coast needs to be prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Irene.
“This will not just be a coastal storm,” Fugate told reporters. “We can see impacts well inland both from winds that can cause widespread power outages as trees fall down but also flooding.”
Fugate stressed that residents should be ready to evacuate if told by local officials.
“There is hardly any excuse for people not to know there is a hurricane out there and helping getting the word out about being prepared and ready in case of evacuation,” Fugate told reporters.
Hurricane Irene is on the sixth day of its destructive path and is currently situated in the Northwest Bahamas. It is moving northwest with 115 mph sustained winds and gusts as high as 128 mph.
The most immediate concern is North Carolina where Irene is set to hit Saturday morning. From there it will move North and Northeast towards Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Any deviation to the left can bring Irene into the D.C. and Baltimore area.
Fugate told reporters that FEMA has teams set up throughout the east coast and has pre-positioned supplies, such as major generators, water, food, infant supplies, tarps and durable medical goods, to help residents deal with the aftermath.
Hurricane warnings will begin this evening with the 5 p.m advisory and continue throughout the weekend according to Read.