WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2011 (HealthDay News) -- Federal officials on Wednesday urged residents of the U.S. East Coast to begin making emergency preparations for Hurricane Irene, a "category 3" storm with winds up to 115 miles per hour that has already battered several Caribbean islands and the Bahamas.
The current forecast track places the center of Irene just off the North Carolina/Virginia coast on Sunday morning and over New England by Monday morning, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.
Evacuations were already under way on Ocracoke, a small barrier island that is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. Federal officials say Irene could cause flooding and power outages as far north as Maine.
All residents should take steps to be prepared and ensure their safety, said Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"It's going to be close and whether we get a brush or whether we have a landfall, it's too early to say," said Fugate, who appeared Wednesday on ABC's Good Morning America. "Go ahead and make sure you're ready and then if evacuations are required, heed those evacuation orders."
Steps include putting together an emergency kit with 72 hours' worth of food and water, developing a family communications plan, and listening to the radio or TV for information about risks and evacuations.
Among other federal government recommendations if the hurricane is likely to strike your area:
People should evacuate under the following conditions:
If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have a safe room, you should:
More information
The U.S. government's Ready America website has more about staying safe during a hurricane.