Hurricane Earl Now Category 3: May Hit North Carolina First on Move Up East Coast

Hurricane Earl is moving toward the East Coast. It currently has winds of about 125 miles per hour. It is expected to arrive in North Carolina on late Thursday or Friday morning. A hurricane watch is in effect for coastal areas in North Carolina and Virginia.

North Carolina Prepares for Hurricane Earl

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered at the Cape Lookout National Seashore and Okracoke Island, of the Outer Banks. There are currently about 5,000 tourists on the island who are now evacuating. It is not yet known if Earl will directly hit the coast or if it will swerve out and stay over the ocean.

The Charlotte Observer in North Carolina report that Gov. Bev Purdue stated "While it is still too early to tell exactly what impact Hurricane Earl will have on our state, we all bear a responsibility to ensure we are ready for any type of emergency."

The Red Cross in North Carolina has readied 14 vehicles that can be used at feeding centers if the area is badly hit by the hurricane. Depending on where the eye of this hurricane hits, the areas impacted will put all emergency measures in place to help residents who may have lost power or are experiencing flooding.

The East Coast has experienced some major hurricanes over the years, including Hurricane Bob in 1991 and Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Only time will tell if Hurricane Earl will create a major amount of havoc. Will this hurricane be one for the history books or will it settle down into just a bad storm?

Beware of Rip Currents

As Hurricane Earl approaches, the ocean is more turbulent than usual with high waves. Rip tides are reported to be strong and dangerous now. Only swim in areas where a lifeguard is present and where the beach has been deemed safe for swimming.

Hurricane Earl: Prepare for 3 Days' Supplies

To get tips for how to evacuate and prepare for the hurricane go to the FEMA website: Ready.gov. When a natural disaster like a hurricane is expected it is always best to ensure you have at least 3 days' worth of food, water, and medications on hand in the home.

So if you need to go shopping, do it now before the stores get cleaned out. If you have elderly people living around you it would be kind to ask them if they need any help getting ready for the storm.

Sources:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/01/tropical.weather/index.html?hpt=C1

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/us/02hurricane.html?hp

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/hurricanes/2010-08-31-hurricane-earl_N.htm

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/01/1659041/hurricane-earl-looks-headed-for.html