US residents warned of hurricane evacuation

Federal officials urged US residents to prepare for possible evacuations today while people in the Turks and Caicos Islands hunkered down in their homes as powerful Hurricane Earl howled over open seas toward the East Coast of the US.

The Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 135mph, was expected to remain over the ocean before turning north and running parallel to the US coast, potentially reaching the North Carolina coastal region on Thursday or Friday. It was then projected to curve back out to sea, perhaps swiping part of New England or far-eastern Canada.