Apropierea uraganului Irene a determinat autoritatile sa ordone vineri evacuarea obligatorie a peste 250.000 de persoane din mai multe cartiere ale orasului New York.
Primarul din New York, Michael Bloomberg, a ordonat vineri evacuarea mai multor cartiere, in contextul apropierii uraganului Irene, zonele vizate fiind Coney Island si Manhattan Beach, in Brooklyn, Far Rockaway si Broad Channel, in Queens, si sectoare situate pe coasta in Staten Island. Primarul orasului a mai anuntat ca sistemul public de transport nu va functiona incepand de sambata seara, relateaza Mediafax.
Michael Bloomberg a lansat un apel la prudenta si a avertizat ca "pericolul este major". Uraganul Irene a fost retrogradat vineri la categoria a doua pe scara Safir-Simpson, cu cinci trepte, prezentand rafale de vant cu o intensitate de 175 de kilometri pe ora, dar Centrul National american al Uraganelor (NHC) cu sediul la Miami (Florida), prevede
o noua intensificare a acestuia, pana sambata.
Vineri la ora 9.00 GMT (12.00, ora Romaniei) ochiul ciclonului se afla in largul Floridei, la aproximativ 675 de kilometri de Cap Hatteras (North Carolina) si inainta cu viteza de 22 de kilometri pe ora catre nord, potrivit ultimului buletin NHC. Aceasta traiectorie il aduce direct spre Coasta de Est a Statelor Unite, pe care urmeaza sa o atinga
sambata dimineata.
Uraganul se va indrepta duminica, spre New York. Aici, "o furtuna extrem de periculoasa", cu rafale de vant de 153 de kilometri pe ora potrivit serviciilor meteorologice americane, ar putea provoca o crestere a nivelului apelor cu
trei-patru metri.
Insulele Bahamas au fost lovite in plin, joi, de uraganul Irene. Vantul, care a atins viteze de aproape 200 de km/h, a provocat daune materiale serioase. Zeci de case si masini au fost distruse. In plus, in weekend uraganul este asteptat pe Coasta de Est a Statelor Unite. Sase state, intre care si New York, au decretat stare de urgenta.
Potrivit estimarilor, Irene ar putea fi cel mai puternic uragan din ultimii 50 de ani care se abate asupra Coastei de Est a Statelor Unite, zona ferita de obicei de astfel de fenomene extreme, scrie antena3.ro.
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Președintele Obama își scurtează vacanța
Preşedintele american Barack Obama va părăsi reşedinţa de vacanţă din Martha's Vineyard cu o zi mai devreme decât era prevăzut, din cauza uraganului Irene
Potrivit AFP, preşedintele Obama a estimat că e mai prudent să meargă la Casa Albă, în timp ce ciclonul ar urma să ajungă pe coasta de est la sfârşitul acestei săptămâni, a explicat presei un purtător de cuvânt al preşedinţiei, Josh Earnest:
"Preşedintele şi-a informat echipa că doreşte să părăsească Martha's Vineyard în această seară, pentru a se întoarce la Casa Albă''.
Martha's Vineyard este o insulă situată în largul coastelor statului Massachusetts
"Trebuie să luăm în serios această furtună'',
le-a declarat preşedintele în cursul dimineţii americanilor pe tema Irene,
vorbind despre un ciclon de proporţii potenţial ''istorice'',
scrie Agerpres.
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When a Hurricane Threatens
Depending on your location, you could be told to evacuate before a warning or even a watch is issued by the National Hurricane Center. Notify someone unaffected by the storm about your whereabouts.
No later than when a watch is issued:
•Fill vehicles with gas.•Get extra cash.
•Fill prescriptions.
•For mobile homes, secure tie-downs and prepare to evacuate when ordered.
•Bring in loose objects from outside.
•Prepare to secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
No later than when a warning is issued:
•Secure all windows with shutters or plywood.
•Place valuables and important papers in a waterproof container and store on highest floor
•of home.
If you are told to evacuate:
•Follow all instructions from local officials, and leave immediately when told to do so.
•Bring emergency supplies listed above.
•Bring copies of important papers such as insurance policies and list and photos of your home’s contents.
•Bring blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games.
•Unplug appliances, turn off electricity and main water valve.
•Lock windows and doors of your home.
•Go!
If you are not told to evacuate:
•Stay at home! Leave the roads available for those who must evacuate.
•Clean bathtub with bleach, fill with water for washing and flushing (not drinking).
•Set fridge to maximum cold and keep closed.
•Turn off utilities if told to do so by local officials.
During a Hurricane
•Go to an interior room on the lowest level of the structure in which you’re taking shelter.
•Stay away from windows and doors, even though they’re covered with shutters or
•plywood.
•During extremely strong winds, lie under something sturdy such as a stairwell or large piece of furniture.
•Do not go outside, not even during passage of the eye. If the eye passes directly over you, the winds could become very weak, but only for a very short period. It will not be long before hurricane-force wind resume, blowing from the opposite direction as before the eye arrived.
After a Hurricane
•Help might not come for up to a few days, and power could be out for days or even weeks.
•Avoid driving on roads covered by water and/or debris. It is often difficult to determine the depth of water covering a road. Turn around, don’t drown.
•Avoid downed power lines. Stay away from objects that are touching a downed power line, such as a fence or tree.
•Do not touch anything electrical if you are wet. Stay out of water that could be touching anything electrical, such as in a basement with electrical appliances, or in flooded areas outside where there could be downed power lines.
•Only use a generator in an outdoor, well-ventilated area, and closely follow manufacturer’s instructions. Many people have died in the aftermath of a hurricane from inhalation of poorly ventilated carbon monoxide from a generator.
•Use flashlights instead of candles for light. Candles pose a serious fire hazard.
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