Already a killer storm, Irene sloshed through the New York metropolitan area Sunday, briefly flooding parts of the city and severing power to a million people but not provoking the doomsday urban disaster that had been feared.
An area of low pressure in the Atlantic had a 90 percent chance on Sunday evening of developing into a cyclone in the next two days.
The disturbance in the west-central Caribbean has become a little bit better defined, and the chances of it developing into a tropical depression or storm have gone up in the latest outlook issued by the National Hurricane Center.
A symposium on the science of hurricanes reveals that research is advancing at (near) hurricane speed.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a disturbance about 200 miles east of Jacksonville, saying environmental conditions are marginally favorable for it to develop before moving inland over Florida later on Wednesday.
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO -- Crew members aboard dozens of ships in the Gulf of Mexico prepared Thursday to evacuate as a tropical rainstorm brewing in the Caribbean brought the deep-sea effort to plug BP's ruptured oil well to a near standstill.
The National Hurricane Center Thursday morning upgraded the tropical disturbance near the Bahamas to tropical depression three.
Stay indoors away from doors and windows, in an area with the walls close together such as a hallway or closet. Keep something with you such as a mattress or pillow to protect your head.
If you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe. Officials on the scene are your best source of information on accessible areas and passable roads.
Begin listening for storm updates or check National Hurricane Center updates online at www.nhc.noaa.gov.
Pregnant women in their last month or at high risk must ask their doctors if hospitalization is necessary. Most hospitals will not admit pregnant women without authorization from a physician. If approved, make arrangements for children; hospitals likely won't allow children or spouses to come along.
Hurricanes striking the eastern United States typically form in equatorial waters from Africa to the Caribbean. Hurricanes in the northern hemisphere spin counterclockwise as they cross the Atlantic toward the U.S.
Follow instructions issued by local officials.
Authorities will issue an evacuation order over television and radio. They also will release lists of evacuation shelters and times they will open. Follow recommended routes to the evacuation center, and if possible, travel during daylight.
Residents of high-rise apartments should know that winds are stronger at higher elevations. Glass doors and windows may blow out of their casings and weaken the structure.
Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable so they should be evacuated in advance of any tropical storm or hurricane.
Establish a family emergency plan. Discuss how to prepare for and respond to a hurricane, what to bring if you are evacuated.
The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter.
Among the important items to protect during a storm are your documents. Have a reliable system for storing important documents even without the threat of a hurricane. If possible, documents that can't be replaced should be stored in a bank safety deposit box.
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