HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT

ITEMS TO BRING TO A SHELTER INCLUDE A FIRST AID KIT... MEDICINES AND PRESCRIPTIONS... BABY FOOD AND DIAPERS... GAMES AND BOOKS... TOILETRIES... A BATTERY POWERED RADIO... A CELL PHONE... FLASHLIGHTS WITH EXTRA BATTERIES... A BLANKET OR SLEEPING BAG FOR EACH PERSON... PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION... COPIES OF KEY PAPERS SUCH AS INSURANCE POLICIES... AVAILABLE CASH AND CREDIT CARDS. REMEMBER... PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN MOST PUBLIC SHELTERS... SO CHECK AHEAD WITH YOUR INTENDED SHELTER.

REGARDING YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS... COVER ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS WITH SHUTTERS OR PLYWOOD. MOVE PATIO FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE OBJECTS INDOORS. BRACE ALL EXTERIOR DOORS... INCLUDING GARAGE DOORS. DO THIS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

PROBABILITY OF TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE CONDITIONS... THE CHANCE FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 8 PERCENT. ALSO... THE CHANCE FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME IS UP TO 65 PERCENT. THE ONSET OF TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD START AS EARLY AS SATURDAY NIGHT... WITH HURRICANE CONDITIONS POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY MORNING.

WINDS... AS HURRICANE IRENE MOVES CLOSER... THE THREAT FOR SUSTAINED HIGH WINDS IS LIKELY TO INCREASE. THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR STRONG TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS FROM SUNDAY MORNING TO EARLY SUNDAY EVENING... AND POSSIBLE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ON SUNDAY. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE CURRENTLY FORECAST TO BEGIN AFFECTING THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT. A GENERAL CONCERN SHOULD BE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF AT LEAST DAMAGING WINDS SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE AREA.