This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-14686497

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hurricane Irene: Obama warns of 'historic' storm Hurricane Irene: Obama warns of 'historic' storm
(40 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has warned Hurricane Irene, currently looming off the east coast of the US, could be a "historic" storm.President Barack Obama has warned Hurricane Irene, currently looming off the east coast of the US, could be a "historic" storm.
Seven states from North Carolina to Connecticut have declared emergencies ahead of Irene's arrival.Seven states from North Carolina to Connecticut have declared emergencies ahead of Irene's arrival.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of four states.Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of four states.
The storm has weakened slightly to category two, with winds up to 105mph (169km/h), a strength at which it is expected to make landfall on Saturday. The storm has weakened slightly to category two, with winds up to 105mph (169km/h), a strength at which it is expected to make landfall.
Irene has caused havoc in the Caribbean and could do the same in the US. Irene, which has already caused havoc in the Caribbean, is expected to hit the coast of North Carolina on Saturday before barrelling northwards to Washington and New York City a day later.
'Don't delay''Don't delay'
At 11:00 EDT on Friday (15:00 GMT on Friday), the storm was 330 miles south-south-west of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the US National Hurricane Center said. At 11:00 EDT on Friday (15:00 GMT), the storm was 330 miles south-south-west of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Mr Obama, on holiday in Martha's vineyard, an island on the Massachusetts coast, said in a statement to reporters: "All indications point to this being a historic hurricane."Mr Obama, on holiday in Martha's vineyard, an island on the Massachusetts coast, said in a statement to reporters: "All indications point to this being a historic hurricane."
"I cannot stress this highly enough: if you are in the projected path of the hurricane you have to take precautions now," he added. "I cannot stress this highly enough: if you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now," he added.
"Don't wait, don't delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst. All of us have to take this storm seriously. If you are given an evacuation order, please follow it." "Don't wait, don't delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst. All of us have to take this storm seriously. You need to listen to your state and local officials, and if you are given an evacuation order, please follow it."
The White House later said Mr Obama was returning early from his break to Washington to lead the government's response to the storm.
Irene, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, could affect up to 65 million people in major cities along the east coast from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston - the most densely populated corridor in America.Irene, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, could affect up to 65 million people in major cities along the east coast from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston - the most densely populated corridor in America.
If it hits New York and New England at category two, it will be the region's strongest storm since Hurricane Bob glanced off the Massachusetts coast in 1991, and Hurricane Gloria, which caused extensive damage to New York City in 1985. "We're going to have damages, we just don't know how bad," Craig Fugate, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the Associated Press news agency.
Irene boasts hurricane force winds extending 90 miles from its centre, and tropical storm winds reaching up to 290 miles from the eye.
"We're going to have damages, we just don't know how bad," Craig Fugate, the head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the Associated Press news agency.
"This is one of the largest populations that will be impacted by one storm at one time.""This is one of the largest populations that will be impacted by one storm at one time."
Huge wind span
If it hits New York and New England at category two, it will be the region's strongest storm since Hurricane Bob glanced off Massachusetts in 1991, and Hurricane Gloria, which caused extensive damage to New York City in 1985.
Irene boasts hurricane force winds extending 90 miles from its centre, and tropical storm winds reaching up to 290 miles from the eye.
The American Red Cross said it was preparing dozens of emergency shelters along the east coast.
States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina.Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Power cut warnings President Obama also declared an emergency in North Carolina, a move allowing greater co-ordination between state and US federal disaster management authorities.
President Obama also declared an emergency in North Carolina, where Irene is due to make landfall first, on Saturday afternoon.
The move allows greater co-ordination between state and US federal disaster management authorities.
The American Red Cross said it was preparing dozens of emergency shelters along the east coast.
Irene is expected to arrive in North Carolina on Saturday and then move up the east coast, diminishing in strength by Sunday.
Heightened waves have already begun hitting North Carolina's Outer Banks.Heightened waves have already begun hitting North Carolina's Outer Banks.
More than 200,000 tourists and residents are being evacuated from coastal parts of North Carolina. Subway flooding fears
While visitors to the region fled the area, residents have been stocking up on food, water and fuel. More than 200,000 people are evacuating from coastal parts of the state, while residents hoping to ride out the storm are stocking up on food, water and fuel.
In Washington DC, which is under a tropical storm watch, Sunday's scheduled dedication of the newly opened memorial for Martin Luther King Jr - which President Obama had been expected to attend - has been postponed until at least September. In Washington DC, Sunday's dedication of the new memorial for Martin Luther King Jr - which President Obama had been expected to attend - has been postponed until at least September.
The power company serving the Washington area warned of "potential widespread power outages" at the weekend. The power company serving the Washington area advised of "potential widespread power outages" at the weekend.
Subway flood fears
US authorities are warning of dangerous storm-surge seas, high waves and rip-tide currents up the east coast as far as Maryland's Eastern Shore.US authorities are warning of dangerous storm-surge seas, high waves and rip-tide currents up the east coast as far as Maryland's Eastern Shore.
In the nation's biggest city, New York - which has not seen a hurricane for decades - hundreds of thousands of people in low-lying and beach-front areas have been advised to move elsewhere ahead of Irene's anticipated arrival on Sunday. In the nation's biggest city, New York, hundreds of thousands of people in low-lying and beach-front areas have been advised to move elsewhere.
Much of New York's subway system and other infrastructure is underground and could be flooded, officials have noted.Much of New York's subway system and other infrastructure is underground and could be flooded, officials have noted.
Amtrak, America's passenger rail service, announced it was cancelling train travel south of Washington on the east coast, and airlines predicted widespread disruptions to air travel at the weekend. Amtrak, America's passenger rail service, announced it was cancelling train travel south of Washington on the east coast, and airlines predicted widespread disruptions to flights.
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.
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.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions