BUXTON, N.C. – Hurricane Earl packed winds near 140 mph as it blew toward North Carolina on Thursday, putting the Eastern Seaboard up to Maine on alert for a Labor Day weekend pounding by waves, gales and rain.
A hurricane warning for the tip of Massachusetts, including Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, joined earlier warnings and watches for hurricanes or tropical storms that stretch from North Carolina up to near the Canadian border.
Earl was a dangerous category 4 storm with no significant change in strength forecast before it comes close to the Outer Banks late Thursday, then turns north in rough parallel to the coast, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
The center's director, Bill Read, said the eye of the storm will likely remain about 30 to 75 miles east of the Outer Banks. At the closest point of approach, the western edge of the eye wall could impact Cape Hatteras, with huge waves, beach erosion and maybe some property damage from the waves.
"They're going to have a full impact of a major hurricane," Read said. "Maybe not the strongest winds but a large area of tropical storm force and probably gusts to hurricane force along the islands."
There will be a similar close point of approach for the eastern tip of Long Island, Rhode Island, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.
"They'll be facing a similar scenario that North Carolina is facing today," Read said. "And it will be bigger. The storm won't be as strong but they spread out as they go north and the rain will be spreading from New England."
That will mean strong, gusty winds much like a nor'easter, and because leaves are still on the trees, there could be fallen trees or limbs and downed power lines.
"This is the strongest hurricane to threaten the northeast and New England since Hurricane Bob in 1991," said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National Hurricane Center. "They don't get storms this powerful very often."
Tourists were largely gone from North Carolina's Outer Banks, but residents who stayed behind said they were prepared to face down the powerful hurricane.
The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater Horizon incident.
* For a full timeline of the Administration-wide response, visit the White House Blog.
Live video link from the ROV.
For updated NOAA trajectory maps, click here.
Cleaning up on shoreline.
Volunteers:
BP is coordinating and deploying thousands of volunteers who are offering their help. These volunteers are considered a critical part of a proactive response to the oil spill. Volunteer activities are focused on clearing the beaches of existing debris. Clearing the beaches prior to a potential oil spill reaching the shoreline and sand advances the efficiency of oil clean-up if necessary.
There are five BP community outreach sites training, preparing and engaging volunteers:
- Venice, Louisiana
- Pensacola, Florida
- Mobile, Alabama
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Biloxi, Mississippi
A robust process is in place to assure that:
- The skills of volunteers are put to the most effective use using an assessment process;
- The volunteers are trained in personal safety;
- The volunteers have proper training and certification from the authoritative organizations and companies required by OSHA for shoreline cleaning of oil should it reach the beaches of the four Gulf States at risk: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
We realize that many people want to help with the response effort. We already have requests from thousands of people willing to volunteer to clean up the beaches now and if and when the oil comes to shore. To help organize volunteers we established a phone line for them to call: 866-448-5816
The U.S. Coast Guard leads the volunteer effort if shoreline cleanup is needed. Shoreline cleanup volunteers must have training including hazardous materials training required by OSHA and EPA. Only volunteers who have been trained and provide appropriate certification are allowed to assist.
If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please call the Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request Line at:
1-866-448-5816 or visit the Web sites below.
State specific volunteer opportunities:
GULF of MEXICO - This picture shows the crew aboard the motor vessel Poppa John train to deploy fire-resistant oil-containment boom off the coast of Venice, La., May 3, 2010. The crew is being trained to deploy the boom and pass it along to shrimp boats whose captains have been trained to tow it during an in situ burn. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.
IMPORTANT LINKS RELATED WITH THE OIL SPILL:
Crisis on the Coast: Oil Spill
:R
