Hurricane Irene prompts NYC mayor to order mandatory evacuations

Preparing for Irene
Residents Bill Novak, center, and Bill Jones board up windows in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irene in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

MIAMI (AP) - With an eye on Hurricane Irene churning of the East Coast, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying coastal areas.

Bloomberg said at a briefing Friday that emergency shelters will be opened at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, tropical storm-force winds have begun arriving on the coast of the Carolinas as Irene approaches.

President Barack Obama decided to cut his vacation short Friday and return to the White House for a storm he described as potentially historic.

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White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the president would leave Martha's Vineyard a day early, on Friday evening, because it would be prudent to be in Washington as Irene strikes the Eastern Seaboard.

Earnest said the president told staff of his decision shortly after urging the millions of Americans in the path of the hurricane to heed instructions from state and local officials, especially if directed to evacuate.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Friday afternoon that the storm's outer bands were bringing sustained winds of at least 39 mph (63 kph). Forecasters also say Irene has weakened slightly and now has winds of 100 mph (161 kph).

Little change in strength is expected as Irene gets closer to the coast. As of Friday afternoon, it was centered 300 miles (483 kilometers) south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)