Keep an eye on Hurricane Irene

Irene is now a hurricane, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2011. Hurricane Irene's current predicted path has it making landfall in the continental United States, meaning it will be the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season to hit the United States. Red Cross volunteers will be prepared when Irene comes ashore to provide food and shelter for evacuees.You can follow Irene at the National Hurricane Center or at a number of weather websites.

At this point, it does not appear that Irene will pose a major threat to the North Carolina coast or to eastern North Carolina. If it keeps to its predicted path,  Irene will be an unusual storm, one that approaches eastern North Carolina from the southwest rather than from the southeast. Western North Carolina appears likely to get a drenching and some strong winds from Irene. Eastern North Carolina is more likely receive some much-needed rain but little in the way of wind damage. But forecasts do change, so stay alert.

A strong storm (Irene is now predicted to come ashore as a Category 2) could lead to the deployment of Red Cross volunteers from across the country, including eastern North Carolina, to the storm's landfall area. When a disaster overwhelms the capacity of local volunteers to meet the needs of clients, the Red Cross enlists volunteers from other areas to assist in the relief operation.In the past year, eastern North Carolina volunteers have been deployed to flooding in Tennessee and along the Missouri River basin and to tornado sites in the Southeast.

When the storm comes, be prepared with a disaster plan and a disaster kit, and be informed.