Evacuation orders have been issued in four US states as the US east coast prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irene.
The category 3 twister ripped through the Bahamas yesterday causing damage to property and cutting power. It is now heading north along the US east coast. It is expected to make landfall twice: once as a category 3 storm in North Carolina on Saturday, and once as a category 2 storm between New York and Boston on Sunday.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina. Six east coast states - North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and New York – have entered emergency status.
New York is expected to make a decision on evacuations at 08.00 Eastern Standard Time (13.00 UK time). Areas of New York City being considered for evacuation include Coney Island, Battery Park City and parts of Staten Island, according to Bloomberg reports.
In North Carolina, three coastal counties issued evacuation orders covering more than 200,000 people, including tourists and full-time residents.
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