Americans batten down the hatches.

As hurricane Irene nears the east coast of America, home-owners are shuttering up their houses against the winds and rain that are expected to hit land tomorrow at North Carolina then careen northwards towards Washington and New York.

BBC Link.

I have friends in Charlotte N Carolina. I hope they are OK, think I'll just send them an email to make sure.

At least they have been warned and are getting prepared for it. I do hope lives are not lost.

Gypsy wrote:I have friends in Charlotte N Carolina. I hope they are OK, think I'll just send them an email to make sure.

Yeah, looks pretty serious Gypsy. Let them know we're thinking of them.

The Lone Ranger wrote:

Yeah, looks pretty serious Gypsy. Let them know we're thinking of them.

I've just emailed my friend Pat and asked him, providing he is safe and can do it, to let us know what is happening from the front end.

British Airways and other airlines have cancelled thousands of flights to and from New York airports this weekend as Hurricane Irene hits the US east coast. All flights to the city's three airports have been suspended until at least Monday. A few outbound services are still scheduled to operate.

More than two million people across the east coast have been told to evacuate their homes. In an unprecendented move, the mayor of New York has ordered an evacuation of nearly 400,000 people living in low-lying parts of the city.

States of emergency have been declared in seven states, from North Carolina to Connecticut.

US President Barack Obama has warned that Hurricane Irene could be "a historic hurricane".

Link

My friend in Charlotte has not come back to me, which is unlike him. I just hope he is visiting friends this weekend and well away from any danger zones.

Gypsy wrote:British Airways and other airlines have cancelled thousands of flights to and from New York airports this weekend as Hurricane Irene hits the US east coast. All flights to the city's three airports have been suspended until at least Monday. A few outbound services are still scheduled to operate.

More than two million people across the east coast have been told to evacuate their homes. In an unprecendented move, the mayor of New York has ordered an evacuation of nearly 400,000 people living in low-lying parts of the city.

States of emergency have been declared in seven states, from North Carolina to Connecticut.

US President Barack Obama has warned that Hurricane Irene could be "a historic hurricane".

Link

My friend in Charlotte has not come back to me, which is unlike him. I just hope he is visiting friends this weekend and well away from any danger zones.

Now been downgarded to cat1, thank goodness.

Gypsy wrote:British Airways and other airlines have cancelled thousands of flights to and from New York airports this weekend as Hurricane Irene hits the US east coast. All flights to the city's three airports have been suspended until at least Monday. A few outbound services are still scheduled to operate.

More than two million people across the east coast have been told to evacuate their homes. In an unprecendented move, the mayor of New York has ordered an evacuation of nearly 400,000 people living in low-lying parts of the city.

States of emergency have been declared in seven states, from North Carolina to Connecticut.

US President Barack Obama has warned that Hurricane Irene could be "a historic hurricane".

Link

My friend in Charlotte has not come back to me, which is unlike him. I just hope he is visiting friends this weekend and well away from any danger zones.

I looked at a map and Charlotte is about 150 miles away from the sea, which may help.

Heard from my friend Pat. Is he bovvered. I have copied a small part of his mail ......like many Americans he hates Obama. I normally have to tell him I don´t know and dont care but every chance he can he slips it into the conversation so please don´t be offended it is him, not me. Wonder why everyone I hang out with has strong views


This storm is a big one . . . .but not the biggest that has hit the East coast. The media appears to be giving this storm a lot of attention because it is supposed to hit the New York City area, and hurricanes usually do not hit NYC.

I was born in South Carolina and grew up there and South Carolinians are accustomed to riding out hurricanes.

There are things in life that are much worse than hurricanes. For example . . . . President Barack Hussein Obama . . . .LOL.

I have some photos to send to you.

Gypsy wrote:Heard from my friend Pat. Is he bovvered. I have copied a small part of his mail ......like many Americans he hates Obama. I normally have to tell him I don´t know and dont care but every chance he can he slips it into the conversation so please don´t be offended it is him, not me. Wonder why everyone I hang out with has strong views


This storm is a big one . . . .but not the biggest that has hit the East coast. The media appears to be giving this storm a lot of attention because it is supposed to hit the New York City area, and hurricanes usually do not hit NYC.

I was born in South Carolina and grew up there and South Carolinians are accustomed to riding out hurricanes.

There are things in life that are much worse than hurricanes. For example . . . . President Barack Hussein Obama . . . .LOL.

I have some photos to send to you.

Good to hear he's OK G.

Here are some pictures from The Telegraph
showing the aftermath of Irene in some of the Caribbean Islands.

At least he is safe.......good.