Current Hurricane IRENE 2011 Voluntary & Mandatory EVACUATIONS List (please add updates)

U.S. Counties, Cities Prepare for Irene


Hurricane Irene is threatening hundreds of miles of highly populated areas along the U.S. coast. Millions of Americans could potentially feel the storm's impacts in the next week. Emergency managers from the Carolinas to the Northeast are taking precautions. President Obama has also started receiving briefings on the storm status.

Here's the very latest on how communities are preparing.

North Carolina (State of Emergency declared ahead of storm)

Dare County: Mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the county
Currituck County: Tourists ordered to evacuate coast on Thursday
NC Ferry System: First-come, first-serve basis for all vehicles pending road conditions
State Dept. of Transportation: Workers are positioning heavy equipment on Hatteras Island to keep N.C. 12 open as long as possible The highway is highly vulnerable to flooding during storms
Ocracoke/Hyde County: Evacuations began Wednesday morning
Read More: See what people in Wilmington are saying about Irene on TWC Social

Virginia

State Level Emergency Responders: FEMA says it has sent incident management assistance teams to staging areas in Virginia, in anticipation of further deployment to potential hurricane impact areas along the coast.
Old Dominion University: Announced that the campus will be closed this weekend and the start of classes for the fall semester will be delayed by three days. Residence halls will close at 7 p.m. on Thursday and the rest of campus will close at 5 p.m. Friday. The university will help find shelter for students with no other accomodations.
Tolls Open: Northbound tolls on the Chesapeake Expressway have been lifted as of 8 a.m. today.
U.S. Navy: The U.S. Navy has ordered the second fleet to leave Norfolk Naval Station, out to sea, to keep the ships safe.
Read More: See what people in Norfolk are saying about Irene on TWC Social

New York


New York City Evacuation Zones

State Level Emergency Responders: Agencies and local governments around the state will meet today to plan coordinated response efforts, such as emergency operations support and field staff deployments to areas that are expected to be hit the hardest.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo: Ordered the state's Office of Emergency Management to prepare for the potential impact of Hurricane Irene, which may hit New York State this coming Sunday.
State Level Emergency Responders: Agencies and local governments around the state will meet today to plan coordinated response efforts, such as emergency operations support and field staff deployments to areas that are expected to be hit the hardest.
Getting Prepared: Cuomo urged New Yorkers to take stock of their emergency supplies, such as water, non-perishable food, radios, batteries, supplies for any pets, and first aid kits. The Governor also encouraged New Yorkers to check in with neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled, who might need assistance to ensure that their needs are met if emergency instructions are issued.
Read More: See what people in New York City are saying about Irene on TWC Social

New Jersey (State of Emergency declared ahead of storm)

State Officials: Preparing to open an emergency operations center.
State Emergency Management Division: Coordinator Frank Donato said public notices will go out on Thursday urging residents to prepare for flooding, high wind and power outages.
Gov. Chris Christie: "If I order a mandatory evacuation, you better leave. If it turns out to be less, we should thank our lucky stars."
Read More: See what people in Atlantic City are saying about Irene on TWC Social

Delaware

Monitor Mode: Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director Jamie Turner is asking residents to monitor the weather and prepare for a possible emergency.
Read More: See what people in Wilmington are saying about Irene on TWC Social