Virginia Not Taking Chances with Irene
As hurricane Irene sets her sights on the barrier islands of North Carolina, the state of Virginia is not taking any chances with this storm. They’ve started issuing warnings to residents of northern Virginia in anticipation that the storm will travel up the Chesapeake Bay sometime early Sunday. State officials are encouraging residents of Virginia’s East Coast to make preparations now in case the storm does impact them directly.
As of Wednesday morning Irene was pounding her way across the Caribbean as a category 3 storm. According to experts, the low and flat geography of the Caribbean islands provides the optimal conditions for hurricanes to strengthen as they move through the region. All signs currently point to Irene becoming a category 4 storm by the time it reaches the eastern coast of the United States. However, whether it actually makes landfall is still unknown. Some experts believe it will remain out over the ocean and simply brush the coast with some heavy rains and winds.
If the storm continues its current path and projections, it could potentially gain even more strength when it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. This could mean significant damage from the winds, flooding, and storm surge in Virginia, putting cities like Hampton, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach at risk for serious problems. Residents are being urged to board up their windows, stockpile necessary supplies, and fill their gas tanks just in case evacuation orders are issued.
The U.S. has not seen a hurricane of this magnitude since Ike made landfall in 2005. Fortunately, most of the states on the east coast are well-versed in hurricane preparedness and know just what to do to ensure the safety of residents. Yet even if Irene does make landfall in the Carolinas or Virginia over the weekend, she’s not expected to be as strong as Hugo, one of the most powerful hurricanes that hit the U.S. coast. When Hugo came rolling through in 1989 he caused more than $7 billion in damage and killed nearly 30 people.
In addition to the usual precautions Virginia residents are also being urged to document their personal possessions by either writing a list or taking pictures and videos. Being able to document one’s possessions makes it much easier to complete an insurance claim should it be necessary. They are also being urged to come up with a family plan which includes both evacuation procedures and proposals for riding out the storm. According to officials, with four days to prepare there’s no reason for Virginia residents to be caught off guard.
If evacuation orders are issued officials expect residents to obey them if at all possible. They remind residents that evacuation orders are not issued without a great deal of forethought. Therefore, when they do come it is because weather experts and emergency preparedness officials believe there is a significant threat to public safety.
