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Hurricane Irene reaches category three on way to US | Hurricane Irene reaches category three on way to US |
(40 minutes later) | |
Hurricane Irene has grown into a category three storm as it barrels towards the east coast of the US. | Hurricane Irene has grown into a category three storm as it barrels towards the east coast of the US. |
Irene, which has drenched the Dominican Republic, now boasts winds of 120 mph (193km/h) near the Bahamas, and could reach the US mainland later this week. | Irene, which has drenched the Dominican Republic, now boasts winds of 120 mph (193km/h) near the Bahamas, and could reach the US mainland later this week. |
Tourists are being evacuated from an island off North Carolina and people are already stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state. | Tourists are being evacuated from an island off North Carolina and people are already stocking up on supplies in coastal areas of the US state. |
The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. | The huge storm has brought flooding and power cuts across the Caribbean. |
Federal officials have warned it could do the same along the US east coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore. | Federal officials have warned it could do the same along the US east coast as far north as Maine, even if it stays offshore. |
Irene 'may strengthen' | Irene 'may strengthen' |
On Wednesday afternoon, Irene was about 250 miles south-east of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and churning north-east at about 12mph. | On Wednesday afternoon, Irene was about 250 miles south-east of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, and churning north-east at about 12mph. |
href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/241742.shtml" >Forecasters say the hurricane - which spans more than 400 miles - could strengthen to a category four storm by Thursday. | |
Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival. | Officials as far north as Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the US have been making preparations for its possible arrival. |
Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. | Coastal areas could suffer beach erosion because of tidal-surge waves and tropical-storm winds, warned the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. |
In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows. | In North Carolina, residents have been buying up fuel and supplies, and plywood to board up windows. |
Authorities ordered tourists and visitors to evacuate Ocracoke Island, off North Carolina, on Wednesday, and the 800 or so residents who live on the barrier island year-round were told to flee on Thursday. | Authorities ordered tourists and visitors to evacuate Ocracoke Island, off North Carolina, on Wednesday, and the 800 or so residents who live on the barrier island year-round were told to flee on Thursday. |
Newly wed Jennifer Zaharek, 23, of Connecticut, told the Associated Press: "We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation." | Newly wed Jennifer Zaharek, 23, of Connecticut, told the Associated Press: "We just got to spend one day on the beach and then we went to bed early to get up for the evacuation." |
She and her husband Andrew, who were married on Monday, had hoped to spend their honeymoon on the island. | She and her husband Andrew, who were married on Monday, had hoped to spend their honeymoon on the island. |
A number of tourists have caught flights off the Bahamas ahead of the storm's arrival there. | A number of tourists have caught flights off the Bahamas ahead of the storm's arrival there. |
Smaller hotels were shut on the island and larger resorts were booked up with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. | Smaller hotels were shut on the island and larger resorts were booked up with people seeking a place to ride out the storm. |
The storm was expected to make many roads impassable in downtown Nassau, the Bahamian capital. | The storm was expected to make many roads impassable in downtown Nassau, the Bahamian capital. |
Woman dies | Woman dies |
On Tuesday, Irene pelted the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with high winds and heavy rain. | On Tuesday, Irene pelted the UK overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands with high winds and heavy rain. |
The US state department warned US citizens against travelling to the region. | The US state department warned US citizens against travelling to the region. |
Hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic took refuge in schools and churches after they were displaced by storm flooding. | Hundreds of people in the Dominican Republic took refuge in schools and churches after they were displaced by storm flooding. |
In Puerto Rico, the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people. | In Puerto Rico, the storm knocked out power to more than half the island and affected the water supplies of more than 100,000 people. |
Government offices, schools and the University of Puerto Rico were closed on Wednesday. | Government offices, schools and the University of Puerto Rico were closed on Wednesday. |
A 62-year-old woman died while attempting to drive over a swollen river near the capital, San Juan, the Associated Press reported. | A 62-year-old woman died while attempting to drive over a swollen river near the capital, San Juan, the Associated Press reported. |
And on Tuesday, more than 80 families in the town of Canovanas lost their homes when a river rose suddenly in heavy rain, El Nuevo Dia newspaper reported. | And on Tuesday, more than 80 families in the town of Canovanas lost their homes when a river rose suddenly in heavy rain, El Nuevo Dia newspaper reported. |
US President Barack Obama declared an emergency, making the island, a US protectorate, eligible for federal help. | US President Barack Obama declared an emergency, making the island, a US protectorate, eligible for federal help. |
Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advised residents of the east coast from the Mid-Atlantic region up to New England to prepare for the hurricane's arrival. | Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, advised residents of the east coast from the Mid-Atlantic region up to New England to prepare for the hurricane's arrival. |
"It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," he told ABC television. | "It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," he told ABC television. |
"Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders." | "Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders." |
Are you in the path of Hurricane Irene? How are you preparing for the storm? You can get in touch using the form below: | Are you in the path of Hurricane Irene? How are you preparing for the storm? You can get in touch using the form below: |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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