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Irene: State-by-state look at dangers, prep

Hurricane Irene thrashed North Carolina and Virginia, knocking out power and piers and killing at least five people, as it rolled up the East Coast on Saturday. Here's a state-by-state glance on how it's affected states along the Eastern Seaboard:

Last Updated 7:49 p.m. ET

CONNECTICUT:
  • Irene predicted to make landfall Sunday between New Jersey and Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. Storm's track forecast through central parts of Connecticut.
  • Hurricane warning for coast.
  • Fairfield ordered a mandatory evacuation for shoreline residents as of noon Saturday, affecting 5,000 to 6,000 people.
  • Millstone nuclear power plant to be shut down if winds exceed 90 mph.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991.
  • President Barack Obama and governor declare state of emergency. National Guard mobilized.
  • Irene likely to cause prolonged power outages and flooding in low-lying areas along the shoreline.
DELAWARE:
  • Hurricane warning statewide
  • Flood watch in effect
  • Storm center to pass near the New Jersey/Delaware coast around 8 a.m. Sunday.
  • Governor orders mandatory evacuation of coastal areas.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
  • Governor says Indian River Inlet Bridge to close Saturday afternoon to all but emergency traffic.
  • State opened shelters in all three counties.
FLORIDA:
  • Surfer is killed Saturday off the central Florida coast after being tossed off his board by heavy waves caused by hurricane.
MAINE:
  • Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England Sunday night.
  • Governor declared an emergency.
  • Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
  • No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
  • Lobstermen began moving their fishing gear farther offshore to avoid damage amid expectations of 30-foot seas.
MARYLAND:
  • Hurricane warning for St. Mary's County and Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Potomac River.
  • Tropical storm warning for Baltimore to Eastern Shore to D.C. suburbs.
  • Flash flood watch in Baltimore-Washington metro region and southern Maryland.
  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for Ocean City and coastal Worcester County, and in Calvert County for homes within 100 feet of Chesapeake Bay cliffs.
  • Governor declared emergency.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
  • Assateague State Park closing until Wednesday; most state park campgrounds closed.
MASSACHUSETTS:
  • Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall in southern New England on Sunday. Forecasts placed the storm's track through central Massachusetts.
  • The governor and president declared a state of emergency. The governor deployed 500 National Guard troops, saying an additional 2,000 troops will be activated Saturday.
  • Hurricane warnings were issued for Martha's Vineyard. A hurricane watch is in effect for the coastline to the mouth of the Merrimack River.
  • Mandatory evacuations have not been ordered.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991.
  • Red Cross is positioning emergency response vehicles, mobilizing trained disaster workers and preparing supplies in case they are needed.
  • Boston's largest homeless shelter is also beginning to warn people living in the streets about the approaching hurricane. Pine Street Inn is also preparing to open its doors around the clock from Saturday afternoon through Monday, and it is strongly urging the homeless to come in for safety.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
  • Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England Sunday night.
  • Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
  • No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
  • Governor directed state Emergency Operations Center to be opened.
  • The Red Cross plans to open four shelters.
  • Organizers of the annual Hampton Beach Talent Competition condensed the three-night schedule to two, telling competitors "it's one song for all the marbles."
NEW JERSEY:
  • Forecasters predicted storm would pass over, or more likely, near New Jersey by midday Sunday.
  • Hurricane warning in effect for coastal and southern counties.
  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for nearly 1 million visitors and residents of Cape May County, coastal Atlantic County and Long Beach Island.
  • Governor and president declare state of emergency.
  • Governor says more than 5,000 people already in shelters as hurricane threatens.
  • New Jersey Transit trains and buses to shut down Saturday.
  • Last hurricane to hit the state was remnants of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which caused major flooding inland.
  • Atlantic City casinos shutting down for only the third time since gambling was legalized 33 years ago.
NEW YORK:
  • Irene predicted to make landfall Sunday as a Category 1 storm between New Jersey and Cape Cod.
  • Hurricane watch and a flood watch issued for Long Island, New York City and suburban Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties.
  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for New York City residents in low-lying coastal areas that are home to 370,000.
  • The governor declared a state of emergency and the state's Office of Emergency Management increased staffing in its underground bunker.
  • New York City's public transit to be halted around noon Saturday because of the hurricane. The five New York-area airports will stop allowing incoming flights at noon Saturday. Many departures were also canceled.
  • Taxis in New York City were to switch from metered fares to zone fares Saturday morning.
NORTH CAROLINA:
  • Hurricane warning for entire coast.
  • Governor and president declared emergency for the state; Eighteen eastern counties under some form of mandatory or voluntary evacuation.
  • Irene made landfall Saturday morning near Cape Lookout. Storm surge prediction of up to 11 feet in Pamlico Sound and up to 9 feet along Outer Banks.
  • Two storm-related deaths reported Saturday: One man killed in Nash County after a tree limb falls on him outside his home. A child died in Goldsboro after the car she was in crashed at an intersection where hurricane had knocked out power to traffic lights.
  • By early afternoon, more than 580,000 people were left without electricity.
  • The Neuse River pours over its banks and into the city of New Bern. Several dozen people had to be rescued from homes as up to 4 feet of water rushed in.
  • More than 60 shelters open in 26 counties.
  • 1,300 prisoners evacuated from two coastal prisons.
  • Ferry service suspended until winds subside.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Isabel in 2003.
PENNSYLVANIA:
  • Hurricane warnings in effect for Philadelphia and Delaware counties. Tropical storm warnings in effect for other parts of eastern Pennsylvania.
  • Governor declares state of emergency.
  • Tropical storm conditions could begin as early as Saturday afternoon.
  • Half-foot or more of rain expected in already-sodden communities. Philadelphia has already set a single-month record for rain with more than 13 inches.
  • Mass transit serving Philadelphia and its suburbs will halt at 12:30 a.m. Sunday because of the hurricane.
  • Residents of low-lying areas in two Delaware County communities told to evacuate.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Floyd in 1999.
  • Flood and flash flood watches are in effect for nine other counties in eastern Pennsylvania through Sunday.
RHODE ISLAND:
  • Irene predicted to make landfall Sunday. Six to 10 inches of rain expected to fall starting as early as Saturday night.
  • State of emergency declared.
  • Hurricane watch issued for much of the state. Tropical storm watch for portions of two inland counties.
  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for low-lying communities in Narragansett, South Kingstown and Bristol by 10 a.m. Sunday. Parts of Westerly are under evacuation orders by 6 p.m. Saturday.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Bob in 1991, which made landfall twice.
  • Residents warned to expect prolonged power outages and property damage.
  • Three-hundred National Guard troops on standby.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
  • Irene was moving away from the state Saturday morning.
  • Tropical storm warnings remained in effect from Edisto Island to North Carolina state line.
  • No mandatory evacuations ordered.
  • Last hurricane to hit was Charley in 2004.
  • Downtown Charleston reported 49 mph wind gust just before noon Friday.
  • Beach erosion reported at high tide Friday evening on Edisto Island and Folly Beach.
  • About 5,000 customers without power from storms in Irene's outer bands.
VERMONT:
  • Forecasters predict Irene to reach northern New England on Sunday night.
  • Heavy rain expected to start Saturday night. Potential for flooding rains and gusty winds.
  • No evacuations planned since path uncertain.
  • Parts of the state hard-hit by Memorial Day weekend flash flooding were bracing for another round.
VIRGINIA:
  • Forecasters predict Irene to make landfall around 2 a.m. Sunday.
  • Hurricane watch for coast.
  • Mandatory evacuations ordered for at least 11 localities, among them the Sandbridge section of Virginia Beach, a barrier island dotted with rentals, Accomack on the Eastern Shore, and for low-lying areas of Norfolk, Hampton and Portsmouth.
  • Governor declared emergency, says people who defy mandatory evacuation orders can be prosecuted.
  • Two storm-related deaths reported: A person was killed when a tree fell on a car in Brunswick County; An 11-year-old Newport News boy dies when tree felled by storm crashes through apartment building.
  • By Saturday afternoon, more than 600,000 customers in Virginia are without electricity.
  • Apparent tornado heavily damages five homes in the Sandbridge area.
  • Last hurricane to hit the state was Isabel in 2003.
  • Shelters opening in at least 14 counties and 12 cities, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton.
  • The Navy ordered the Second Fleet out to sea to escape the storm.
  • Interstate 85 South near Petersburg closed because of trees toppled from Hurricane Irene. WASHINGTON, D.C.:
    • Tropical storm warning and flash flood watch.
    • No mandatory evacuations ordered.
    • Mayor has declared state of emergency.
    • Last hurricane to hit was Hazel in 1954.
    • One of the area's largest power suppliers warns that D.C. and surrounding suburbs could have widespread outages that could take days to restore.
    • Approach of hurricane forced postponement of Sunday's dedication of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
    • Impending storm prompts Walter Reed Army Medical Center to accelerate transfer of last remaining patients to new facility in Bethesda, Md.
    • City gives away sandbags to residents for a second day.
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