Obama: "Prepare for the worst"

From the shores of North Carolina to New York City, through the federal capital, the east coast of the United States was preparing yesterday for the impact of Hurricane Irene, which, depending on the weather, landfall today with gusts as high as 165 kilometers per hour.

Officials ordered evacuations in coastal areas yesterday, closing of public transport, detailed emergency plans and prepared for heavy damage in an area unaccustomed to such a force storms.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the evacuation of about 250,000 New Yorkers, all living in the lower areas of the city, the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, including Battery Park City, Lower Manhattan and Governor's Island. On Wall Street, close to Battery Park, considered one of the areas most at risk, the stock was gathering generators to what may happen tomorrow does not prevent the opening on Monday.
"We have never declared an evacuation and we would not be doing now if we did not believe that this storm has great destructive potential," the mayor said. All residents of areas located below sea level, designated as area A, must have left their homes to five in the afternoon (once at night in mainland Spain).
The authorities of the State of New York have decided to close from noon today the network of public transport in the city, including bus systems, subways and railways.
All flights departing from or arriving in the city scheduled for today and tomorrow have been suspended.
While many people are stockpiling supplies, some have seen business opportunities: some supermarkets offer for two days "coupons hurricane."
At the same time, President Barack Obama from his vacation retreat on an island in Massachusetts, who finished ahead of time to avoid the effects of the hurricane, warned: "I can not stress enough: if you are on the planned route of the hurricanePrecautions should be taken at this time.
Do not wait. Do not delay decisions. We all look the best but we must be prepared for the worst, "he said." It seems that this could be a historic hurricane. "
About 65 million people reside in areas affected by the planned route of the hurricane, the axis linking Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. In Washington, the government has distributed sandbags and have enabled four shelters. The national rail company, Amtrak canceled yesterday the long-distance routes connecting the capital with the south. The airlines have also canceled several routes.
"From the standpoint of flooding, this may be something that happens only once every century," warned the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie. His counterpart in Virginia, Robert McDonnell, advised citizens to seek shelter and do not make travel plans today.
Passing Bahamas, Irene was downgraded to Category 2 hurricane, but is expected to intensify gusts at landfall, which the National Hurricane Center expected to happen today near the town of Wilmingon, North Carolina, forafternoon (evening in Spain). If it exceeds 178 kilometers per hour, will be Category 3.
The memory of Hurricane Katrina was a Category 3 and was registered six years ago in the Gulf of Mexico, still remains.