How Will Infrastructure Fare In Hurricane Irene?

Hurricane Irene, barreling towards the East Coast of the U.S., is expected to down power lines, turn city streets into rivers and threatens to shut down the city that never sleeps.

Irene is currently downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, its wind velocity dropping from 115 mph to a still ferocious 105mph. The National Hurricane Center said that it did not expect any other changes to Irene’s strength as it steams towards the coast.

“I don’t see it falling apart. There’s nothing in the atmosphere that would kill it altogether,” said Bill Read of the National Hurricane Center. “I would prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

President Obama urged people to heed evacuation orders.

“I cannot stress this highly enough, if you are in the projected path of this hurricane you have to take precautions now. Don’t wait, don’t delay,” said Obama. “All indications point to this being a historic hurricane.”

Hurricane watches have been extended from North Carolina to New York City and even Boston. States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. The hurricane is a particularly slow-moving storm and authorities are concerned about how long it may linger over the cities and towns it strikes.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/hurricane-irene-billions-damage-expected-east-coast/story?id=14385269

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