Likely to become major Category 3 storm today The emergency operations center opened and preparations were stepped up in Charleston County this afternoon as Hurricane Irene roared toward the Bahamas. County officials began alerting residents to pay attention to media in case a voluntary or mandatory evacuation is ordered. "Because of the low-lying areas in our county, we will never have enough safe shelter space for all of the residents who live here," said Jason Patno, Charleston County Emergency Management director. "Therefore, we encourage everyone who has the means to leave town to do so and to consider shelters only as a last resort when they have nowhere else to go." Patno also encouraged people who can to leave before an evacuation is ordered, to make the trip easier and to ease the congestion of evacuation traffic. At 11 a.m., the National Hurricane Center continued to list the storm as having 100 mph sustained winds, although some forecasters believed the winds could be closer to major hurricane strength at 111 mph. Meanwhile, the bulls eye of the forecast tracks shifted slightly east to a landfall near the Outer Banks in North Carolina. South Carolina remains in the area considered possible for landfall, but the border is now at the Georgia line. Computer guidance models continued shifting the storm's track to the east and forecasters have begun to eye to Mid-Atlantic and even New England states. "People tend to think of hurricanes as a Southern thing. The Mid-Atlantic and New England coastal regions need to be taking the track of Irene very seriously," said Craig Fugate, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, at the close of a morning press conference. Bill Read, the hurricane center director, said forecasters are fairly confident of the storm's track for the next 48 hours, which puts it in the Bahamas as a powerful hurricane with winds at least 111 mph. "It's heading hopefully northward at that point," he said. But, "it's too early to get really pinpointy on the track." The storm is expected to be large enough to push winds at least 40 mph as far as 200 miles from its eye, he said. "We're going to have a large cyclone move up the Eastern seaboard for the next four or five days. The impacts could be widespread." The storm is still expected to reach or pass the Lowcountry on Friday night and Saturday morning. Swells and rip currents should begin to be felt along the beaches by Thursday. The storm is expected to pass close enough to bring tropical storm winds to at least the beaches and heavy rain throughout the area, said John Quagiariello, National Weather Service meteorologist in Charleston. Irene cut a destructive path through the Caribbean on Monday, raking Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with strong winds and rain. Irene grew into a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, Irene had maximum sustained winds around 100 mph (160 kph) and was centered about 50 miles (90 kilometers) north-northwest of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The hurricane was moving west-northwest near 12 mph . At 11 a.m., the storm's center was located at 20.5 North by 71.0 West. Click here for the Post and Courier's 2010 Hurricane Guide Keep track of hurricanes, and learn how to be prepared. Forecasters say the hurricane could grow to a monstrous Category 4 storm with winds of more than 131 mph before it’s predicted to come ashore this weekend on the U.S. mainland. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami expected Irene to reach Category 3 strength on Tuesday, said spokesman Dennis Feltgen. Been a while It's been seven years since a hurricane or tropical storm made landfall in the Lowcountry -- in 2004, the year that Gaston hit Charleston and seven storms at least brushed the state. There's an anxiety that the region is overdue. Resident are on edge. Around the Lowcountry, water began disappearing from store shelves, although there was still plenty of bread and milk. Pam and Johnny Ohlandt, who live on the water at Clark Sound, were prepping Monday, getting things off the first floor, putting the house and boats in order. Pam Ohlandt took some time to make the flood insurance payment early. The Ohlandts were in Charleston for the disastrous Hurricane Hugo in 1989. "When they start talking (hurricane category) 3s and 4s, those two numbers worry me," Johnny Ohlandt said. "Normal high tide comes up pretty high." On Folly Beach, Fred Williams filled his car with gas, began ticking down his storm checklist and bookmarked the FEMA page and Internet weather pages on his computer. "I'm getting ready to get ready, and if we have a storm I'm a little ahead of the game," he said. Officials preparing The S.C. Emergency Management Division, Charleston County and nearby counties alerted workers that they may be opening emergency operation centers. The procedure is called for when a hurricane or other potential disaster is "imminent." Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, who led Charleston's recovery from the massive destruction of Hurricane Hugo's 135 mph winds and flooding storm surge, called his staff together early Monday to discuss preparations for the storm. "Hurricanes are unpredictable, but this current track takes it in our direction, so everyone should take it very seriously," he said. "Make sure you have a (disaster) plan, and if you do start writing it down," and make sure disaster supply kits are stocked, said Cathy Haynes, Charleston County emergency management operations chief. The Lowcountry is still in good shape to deal with a landfall as far as staff and equipment, she said, despite tight budgets. South Carolina officials almost certainly would call for an evacuation in the face of a major hurricane. Some businesses began prepping and making sure employees were clear on contingency plans. Kristen Jay, an employee at Rita's Seaside Grille on Center Street, said discussions were held at the restaurant regarding the forecast, and some precautions were taken. "We put all the food in one cooler by itself in case of a power outage, so we could keep it cool with buckets of ice," Jay said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hurricane prep •Create a written emergency preparedness and action plan for your family and business. •Visit your insurance agent now. Review insurance coverage for your home and business, and the contents. Determine your flood insurance eligibility -- homeowners insurance typically does not cover flood damage. •Buy plywood or shutters for protecting windows. Trim trees to lessen flying debris. •Make an evacuation plan if you live in an area vulnerable to storm surge or flooding, if you live in a mobile home, or if you live in a high-rise building. •Identify the evacuation route you will use if told to evacuate. Determine the nearest substantial, low-rise building outside of flood zones to which you can evacuate -- an official public shelter, a hotel or a friend's or relative's home. Find out if the place you are going will accept pets. •Agree upon two places family members can meet if separated, one outside your home for an emergency while there, and one out of the neighborhood if you cannot return home. •Test emergency equipment such as generators and flashlights. •Decide where to store your boat during a tropical storm or hurricane, and factor into your action plan the time to move it to storage. •Assemble a hurricane survival kit. Obtain emergency supplies now, such as non-perishable food, water and medicine, to be self-sufficient during the storm and its potentially lengthy aftermath. If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep to gather these items, they will be in very short supply, or even unavailable.

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