United States Hurricane Earl (2010)

this animation shows storm’s progress , transformation between september 1 , september 3, 2010.

as hurricane earl moved away eastern caribbean on august 31, nhc began issuing storm watches united states east coast. day, hurricane watch issued areas of north carolina between surf city , virginia border. tropical storm watch issued south of area cape fear. next day, hurricane warning issued parts of north carolina coastline between bogue banks virginia border , hurricane watch extended northward cape henlopen, delaware. further watches , warnings issued throughout day, covering increasingly large region of coastline. september 2, these advisories encompassed of east coast bogue banks, north carolina united states-canada border in northern maine. spokesman nhc, dennis feltgen, stated not since hurricane bob in 1991 had such large region of u.s. east coast been under threat hurricane. cape cod, massachusetts placed under hurricane warning time , remained in place until earl downgraded tropical storm following day. advisories gradually lessened in coverage storm moved away united states. last warning in northern maine remained in effect until morning of september 4 when earl approached landfall in nova scotia.

on august 30, emergency officials in massachusetts began early-stage emergency plans, ensuring communities had shelters, generators, sand bags , other disaster prevention materials. officials in new york , new jersey responded threat of earl. evacuation plans readied long island , new york city; emergency officers in new jersey discussed possibility of evacuating residents low-lying areas along coastline. having experienced fatality distant hurricane danielle earlier in august, officials in maryland took threat of earl seriously. estimated 250,000 people expected travel region labor day weekend, increasing risk of loss of life rip currents. daily conference calls between state officials began on august 30. in suffolk county , nassau county on long island, emergency officials prepared winds in excess of 40 mph (64 km/h) , warned evacuations possible. administrator of federal emergency management agency, craig fugate, cautioned earl s approach warranted reminder evacuation plans updated u.s. east coast, noting wouldn t take have storm come ashore somewhere on coast. message pay attention.

on august 31, mandatory evacuations began on north carolina s ocracoke island. don t remember last time there mandatory evacuation order island, stated commissioner kenneth collier of hyde county. mandatory evacuations issued hatteras island on september 1, total of 30,000 residents , visitors affected. on september 1, state of emergency declarations issued governors of maryland, north carolina, , virginia. naval station norfolk put under orders ready depart port within 24 hours if necessary. following day, governor deval patrick declared state of emergency massachusetts. nstar deployed crews michigan cape cod. ferry nantucket stopping service friday morning. chatham, massachusetts under voluntary evacuation order. several school districts in rhode island released students school on september 3, bristol-warren , cumberland school districts, closed schools in anticipation of hurricane earl.

president barack obama signed disaster declaration north carolina on evening of september 1. action authorized department of homeland security , federal emergency management agency coordinate relief efforts , makes federal funds available. officials in dare county, north carolina, issued mandatory evacuation orders september 2 visitors coastal county, including outer banks. mandatory evacuation extended residents in areas, including town of south nags head , hatteras island. dare county schools , courts closed september 2 , closed september 3.