Latest sign of Irene’s power: Evacuation orders in Wilmington
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Vehicles sit in flood waters at a auto repair shop in North Carolina on Saturday. Phila. Nutter and other officials are extremely worried about regional flooding. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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A man drives his car through a flooded street in New Bern, N.C. With flooding likely here, area motorists have been warned to never drive into standing water. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
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In the Outer Banks of N.C., a fishing pier looses pilings. On Saturday night, Atlantic City, N.J., and other evacuated shore towns stood in the path of the hurricane. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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A house on Main Street along the Manayunk Canal prepares for the storm. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Main Street in Manayunk (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Whatever can't be moved to higher ground is being tied down at the Philadelphia Canoe Club, including these benches (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Members of the Philadelphia Canoe Club have kayaked inside the building during previous hurricanes. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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The entire driveway is expected to flood. Building caretaker, Kris Alutius, jokingly calls the Philadelphia Canoe Club
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About 30 members showed up at 8 a.m. on Saturday to help move the boats and equipment. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Manayunk Brewery is prepared with sandbags and water pumps (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Rain began to fall on the Manayunk Canal around 11 a.m. on Saturday. (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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Sandbags sit at the front door of a furniture store on Main Street (Max Matza/for NewsWorks)
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A Cape May police officer, second from left, talks with a group of surfers on the boardwalk early Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gives a news conference in Trenton, N.J. as the state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Irene on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Businesses in flood areas were ordered closed by Governor Jack Markell. Crabby Dicks in Delaware City got the message. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)
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Governor Jack Markell waived all tolls on Delaware Route 1 to make sure people could evacuate the coastal areas quickly. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)
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Some boaters at the Delaware City marina made last minute preps hoping for the best during Irene. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)
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There were only light winds at 10am Saturday, but the Delaware River was already getting choppy at Delaware City. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)
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The abandoned toll booth on Delaware Route 1 at the Roth bridge. (John Mussoni/For NewsWorks)
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A parking payment station in Center City Philadlephia is wrapped in plastic. The city is offering free parking during the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)
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Some people turned to movies ahead of Hurricane Irene's visit. A small line formed at the $1 DVD rental stand as some look to keep busy while waiting out the hurricane. (Tom MacDonald/For NewsWorks)
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Home Depot remained open late into the night as residents prepare for the worst as Hurricane Irene makes it's way up the east coast, Thursday Aug. 25, 2011 in Manahawkin, N.J. Tens of thousands of visitors to the New Jersey shore and many residents have begun an orderly exodus after a series of requests to evacuate because of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Joe Epstein)
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Traffic jams the Garden State Parkway across the Great Egg Harbor Bay Inlet Bridge near Ocean City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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Shoppers Friday had to wait in long lines at one Philadelphia market as many stocked up on supplies for Hurricane Irene.
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The Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross set up a shelter Friday night at Lincoln High School in Mayfair.
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Patience was required for shore evacuees on the Parkway. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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A Superfresh employee replenishes depleted stocks of bottled water at a store in the Northern Liberties. (Peter Crimmins/For NewsWorks)
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Hurricane preparation near Washington Mall in Cape May, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
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A police officer is on crowd-control duty outside the Atlantic City Convention Center, which is being used as an evacuation center for hundreds of city residents fleeing the approach of Hurricane Irene. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)
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In Cape May Friday, residents finish boarding up before evacuating. (Kim Paynter/NewsWorks)
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Barry Sharp in front of his home in Wildwood Crest. He has been a resident for 50 years and plans to ride out the storm. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)
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A deserted beach at Wildwood Crest. (Kim Paynter/For NewsWorks)
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The Paradise Motel is boarding up for Hurricane Irene in Wildwood, N.J. (Kimberly Paynter/For NewsWorks)
In preparation for Irene, parts of Wilmington have now been ordered to evacuate. Traffic is streaming westward from the Shore.
Are you preparing? Send us your photos.
With Irene closing in, SEPTA and N.J. Parts of Wilmington have now been ordered to evacuate. Traffic is streaming westward from the Shore.
According to the latest forecast models from Phillyweather.net, wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour are expected to hit the Jersey Shore Sunday.
Along I-95, Phillyweather.net says to expect between 5-10 inches of rain, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour.
In Philadelphia, rain could exceed seven inches, with strong wind gusts as well, possibly as high as 40 miles per hour, according to the latest forecasts.
On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declared a state of emergency, calling the storm a “serious and significant” event, with the threat of flooding across the state.
“The barrier islands that are concentrated in Atlantic County and Cape May County are going to be subject to some very high winds,” he said. “They’re going to be subject to a storm surge which may run as much as seven to 12 feet.”
Update, 7:20 p.m. So, you’ve got the perfect Shore wedding planned for this weekend and the biggest storm in who-knows-how-long comes thundering up the coast. You can loose a lot of money, and even more memories. More »
Update, 7:05 p.m. If you’re not in an evacuation zone, here is a list of precautions tri-state residents should take to prepare themselves and their homes for this weekend’s storm. More »
Update, 6:10 p.m. Wilmington Mayor James Baker has declared a State of Emergency in Wilmington, due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene.
The Mayor signed an Executive Order that includes the mandatory evacuation of the southeast section of Wilmington, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday. More »
Update, 4:45 p.m. As of 4 p.m. Ortley Beach, Ocean Beach, Chadwick Beach, Normandy Beach and Pelican Island are under a mandatory evacuation order. Residents and tourists need to leave by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Update, 3 p.m. Officials with New Jersey Transit have announced all rail service will be suspended beginning at noon Saturday. Waiting rooms at stations controlled by New Jersey Transit will remain open throughout the weekend. Information regarding New Jersey Transit bus schedules will be forthcoming.
Update, 2 p.m. Philadelphia has set up emergency shelters, identified potential flood zones and announced the suspension of SEPTA service for Sunday. High schools in West, Northwest and Northeast Philadelphia will be used as shelters over the weekend, and those staying at home are encouraged to prepare shelter-in-place kits that include things like flashlights, nonperishable foods and a first aid kit. This PDF has the city’s complete guide.
Update, 1:20 p.m. Gov. Tom Corbett has declared a state of emergency in Pennsylvania in an effort to help the state, county and local governments coordinate and communicate their diaster plans with federal agencies. Residents are urged to stay on top of the news and be prepared for an emergency.
Update: 12:40 p.m. The Schuylkill River is expected to exceed the Philadelphia flood stage at 2 p.m. Saturday, 2 a.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. Sunday. These times could change
Update, 12:30 p.m. Governor Jack Markell of Delaware is ordering an evacuation of coastal communities in all 3 counties. Anyone living within 3/4 of a mile will be affected. The state is working on maps and will make them available shortly. Tolls are now suspended on the Route 1 bridge through the storm. Businesses in the affected area are ordered to close.
Update, 10:30 a.m.: Evacuation orders are likely to extend to Delaware beach, according to Governor Jack Markell. During an interview from WHYY’s Willimington studios this morning, Governor Markell said “it’s quite likely in the next few hours that we’re going to extend the mandatory evacuation to [residents] as well.”
Update, 10 a.m.: Phillyweather.net reports Hurricane Irene is heading north, with the eye of the storm slightly shifting to the east. The storm is set to hit several east coast locations within the next 48-60 hours, bringing with it heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. There is a strong potential for flooding to bayfront and oceanfront property.
Update, 9:30 a.m.: Philaelphia is now under a hurricane warning. According to the National Weather Service, the chance for hurricane conditions is less than or equal to 14 percent, but the chance for tropical storm conditions is up to 82 percent.
How are you preparing for the hurricane? What specifically are you doing to stay safe? Have you evacuated or do you plan to evacuate? Share your thoughts in the comments section below the story.
Emergency management officials recommend residents in Philadlephia and throughout parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware prepare for the storm.
BE PREPARED:
The National Hurricane Center has a checklist of things you should consider before a hurricane.
Develop a family plan
Create a disaster supply kit
Have a place to go
Secure your home
Have a pet plan
Below, we’ve attached the latest forecast from phillyweather.net. NewsWorks.org will be tracking the hurricane throughout the weekend – check back regularly for updates.
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