Millions brace as Irene churns toward U.S.

SUSTAINED WINDS: 100mph 

LATITUDE: 31.2N

PRESSURE: 951.00mb

WIND GUSTS: 125mph

LONGITUDE: 77.5W

MOVING: N at 14mph

Hurricane Irene began lashing the East Coast with rain Friday ahead of a weekend of violent weather that was almost certain to heap punishment on a vast stretch of shoreline from the Carolinas to Massachusetts.

For hundreds of miles, people in the storm's path headed inland, made last-minute preparations and monitored the hurricane's every subtle movement. Irene had the potential to cause billions of dollars in damage all along a densely populated arc that included Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and beyond. At least 65 million people could be affected.

President Obama said all indications point to the storm being a historic hurricane.

"I cannot stress this highly enough," Mr. Obama said from Blue Heron Farm on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, where he is on vacation with his family. "If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst."

As Irene trudged northwest from the Bahamas, rain from its outer bands began falling along the North and South Carolina coast. Swells and 6- to 9-foot waves were reported along the Outer Banks. Winds were expected to pick up later. Thousands had already lost power as the fringes of the storm began raking the shore.

Hurricane warnings remained in effect from North Carolina to New Jersey. Hurricane watches were in effect even farther north and included Long Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Mass.

Here  some usefull tips to save our life for in critical critical.....

• Make sure you have plenty of batteries and candles.
• If you have regular phone service (non-cable), you will want a corded phone, since cordless will not work, and cell service could be difficult.
• Have small bills ($1’s and $5’s) for purchases, because credit/debit card transactions and ATM’s may not be working.
•  If you have a generator, have at least 10 gallons of gas, and get it ahead of time, since gas pumps may not be working.
•  Fill your car gas tank.
•  If you have an asphalt shingle roof greater than 10/15 years old, you may want to get a tarp, since these become almost impossible to find after a storm. If your roof is damaged, and you don’t cover it, any subsequent water damage will not be covered by insurance.
• If you have an ice chest, make ice and fill it
• If you have well water (no power, no water), bottle up some water and fill you bath tub. You can use this water for cleaning and flushing.