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| Hurricane Irene churns towards US | Hurricane Irene churns towards US |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Authorities on the east coast of the US, from North Carolina to New York City, are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene this weekend. | Authorities on the east coast of the US, from North Carolina to New York City, are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene this weekend. |
| The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is a category three storm, packing winds of 115mph (185km/h), and expected to get stronger. | The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is a category three storm, packing winds of 115mph (185km/h), and expected to get stronger. |
| The US Navy is moving dozens of its ships out to sea, to protect them and their port from high waves. | The US Navy is moving dozens of its ships out to sea, to protect them and their port from high waves. |
| Irene, currently over the Bahamas, has already caused havoc in the Caribbean. | Irene, currently over the Bahamas, has already caused havoc in the Caribbean. |
| States of emergency have been declared in Virginia, New Jersey and in eastern North Carolina. | |
| Evacuations | Evacuations |
| At 11:00 EDT (15:00 GMT) on Thursday, Irene was 75 miles north north-east of Nassau, the Bahamian capital, and moving north north-west at 13mph, the US National Hurricane Center said. | |
| The expanding hurricane is now 580 miles wide and forecast to reach category four ahead of its expected arrival in North Carolina on Saturday. | The expanding hurricane is now 580 miles wide and forecast to reach category four ahead of its expected arrival in North Carolina on Saturday. |
| It is then expected to weaken as it moves up the east coast, diminishing in strength to a still-powerful category two storm on Sunday. | It is then expected to weaken as it moves up the east coast, diminishing in strength to a still-powerful category two storm on Sunday. |
| US authorities are warning of dangerous storm-surge seas, high waves and rip-tide currents along the south-eastern coast. | US authorities are warning of dangerous storm-surge seas, high waves and rip-tide currents along the south-eastern coast. |
| In Virginia, the US Navy ordered its Second Fleet to leave Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia on Thursday morning and head out to sea. | In Virginia, the US Navy ordered its Second Fleet to leave Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia on Thursday morning and head out to sea. |
| "The forecasted destructive winds and tidal surge is too great to keep the ships in port," said Vice-Adm Daniel Holloway, the fleet's commander. | "The forecasted destructive winds and tidal surge is too great to keep the ships in port," said Vice-Adm Daniel Holloway, the fleet's commander. |
| "There is a much greater potential of not only the ships being damaged, but also the pier infrastructure. | "There is a much greater potential of not only the ships being damaged, but also the pier infrastructure. |
| "Having the ships under way also makes them ready and available to respond to any national tasking, including any needed disaster response efforts." | "Having the ships under way also makes them ready and available to respond to any national tasking, including any needed disaster response efforts." |
| North Carolina emergency officials have extended evacuation orders to include more than 200,000 tourists and residents in three coastal counties. | |
| Visitors to the region have been leaving the area, while residents are preparing to ride out the storm by stocking up on food, water and fuel. | |
| "It wouldn't behove anyone to stay in these circumstances," Dare County emergency management spokeswoman Sharon Sullivan told the Associated Press. | "It wouldn't behove anyone to stay in these circumstances," Dare County emergency management spokeswoman Sharon Sullivan told the Associated Press. |
| "Businesses are boarding up. Nobody can guarantee their safety." | "Businesses are boarding up. Nobody can guarantee their safety." |
| New Jersey Governor Chris Christie warned would-be holiday makers to avoid the shore, and urged people to evacuate ahead of the storm's anticipated arrival on Saturday night. | |
| "We do not want folks going to the shore this weekend," he said. "If you're at the shore now... I'm urging folks to voluntarily leave." | |
| In New York City, more than 1,000 miles north of the storm's location on Thursday morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged residents of low-lying and beach-front areas to find a place to stay on higher ground ahead of Irene's anticipated arrival on Sunday. | In New York City, more than 1,000 miles north of the storm's location on Thursday morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged residents of low-lying and beach-front areas to find a place to stay on higher ground ahead of Irene's anticipated arrival on Sunday. |
| The New York Police Department, the nation's largest, moved 50 small boats to low-lying areas to be ready for rescue missions. | The New York Police Department, the nation's largest, moved 50 small boats to low-lying areas to be ready for rescue missions. |
| The city's social services agencies are doubling their efforts to ensure homeless New Yorkers have access to shelter. | The city's social services agencies are doubling their efforts to ensure homeless New Yorkers have access to shelter. |
| Also, crews were clearing the city's drainage system to make room for the torrents of rain expected when the storm passes to the city's east. | Also, crews were clearing the city's drainage system to make room for the torrents of rain expected when the storm passes to the city's east. |
| The exact track of the hurricane is uncertain, but US emergency officials said the east coast from the Carolinas to New England was preparing for its impact. | The exact track of the hurricane is uncertain, but US emergency officials said the east coast from the Carolinas to New England was preparing for its impact. |
| "This is going to be a big storm. Just because it hits one area doesn't mean it's not going to cause damage further up the coast," said Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. | "This is going to be a big storm. Just because it hits one area doesn't mean it's not going to cause damage further up the coast," said Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. |
| 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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