Hurricane Earl prompts US East Coast evacuations
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Thursday, September 02, 2010
Evacuations have begun in areas of the US East Coast likely to be hit by Hurricane Earl.
The hurricane strengthened to a category four storm again, generating sustained winds of 215km/h (135mph).
President Barack Obama said officials needed to be ready for a "worst case" scenario in a call to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).
One island in North Carolina's Outer Banks is being evacuated and visitors are being asked to leave another.
The narrow islands are served by a single main road and officials worry that waves washing over it will cause danger to travellers.
Fema has warned people along much of the the eastern seaboard of the US to be vigilant and follow official bulletins.
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said they expected the hurricane to turn north and then run parallel to the East Coast.
They temporarily downgraded Earl to a category three storm on Wednesday, but the hurricane strengthened to a category four again later in the day.
"The most important thing for people living in Earl's potential tract to do is to listen to and follow the instructions of their local officials," Fema administrator Craig Fugate said.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the east coast of the US from Bogue Inlet North Carolina north-eastward to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.
The hurricane watch has been adjusted northward and now extends from the North Carolina/Virginia border northward to Massachusetts, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.