NY state of emergency over hurricane

NEW York governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency to prepare for the potential impact of Hurricane Irene, which could hit the state this weekend.

The formal declaration allows the state to aid counties, cities and towns “more effectively and quickly” get help from the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact and get federal help earlier, the Democratic governor said.

“We are communicating with our federal and local partners to track the storm and to plan a co-ordinated response, and we will deploy resources as needed to the areas expected to be hit the hardest.”

The northeast seaboard, including Washington and New York, rushed to prepare yesterday for a possible mauling from the hurricane before it hits the US coast this weekend.

From the Carolinas to Cape Cod, more than 50 million people were potentially in Irene’s path. States, cities, ports, industries, oil refineries and nuclear plants scrambled to activate emergency plans, while residents stocked up on food and water and worked to secure homes, vehicles and boats.

The US navy sent the ships of its Second Fleet out of port at Hampton Roads, Virginia, to ride out the expected powerful storm at sea.

Irene, a major Category 3 hurricane, battered the Bahamas yesterday and was expected to sweep northward to hit the North Carolina coast tomorrow. “All the major metropolitan areas along the northeast are going to be impacted by the close proximity of the way Irene is going to pass,” National Hurricane Center director Bill Read said. “Being a large hurricane, tropical storm-force winds will extend far inland.”

He said Irene could mimic the path of Hurricane Gloria in 1985, which caused $900 million damage.