Obama Warns of ‘Historic’ Storm; Cuts Short Vacation

New York Times
By JACKIE CALMES
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. – President Obama will cut short his Martha’s Vineyard vacation because of Hurricane Irene and return Friday night, as he urged Americans along the Eastern Seaboard to take precautions against the potentially “historic hurricane” making its way toward the coast this weekend.

Mr. Obama, his wife and two daughters were to leave Martha’s Vineyard, just off Massachusetts, on Saturday but he decided “it would be more prudent” for him to return to the White House with his family Friday to monitor events, said his spokesman, Josh Earnest. Island authorities had begun their own preparations for the storm, including canceling some ferries to the mainland.

Immediately before directing his aides to prepare to depart, Mr. Obama appeared before cameras at his rental farm property to warn that Hurricane Irene, which on Friday was barreling toward North Carolina on a path that threatened all the way through New England, is “likely to be an extremely dangerous and costly storm.”

“All indications point to this being a historic hurricane,” he added.

“I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don’t wait. Don’t delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst. All of us have to take this storm seriously. You need to listen to your state and local officials, and if you are given an evacuation order, please follow it,” Mr. Obama said.

Underscoring the government’s own preparations, Mr. Obama said he had ordered an aircraft carrier group out to sea to avoid the storm. Before his remarks, the president for a second day had convened a conference call of senior administration officials about Irene’s progress and the status of federal relief efforts. The call included his chief of staff, William M. Daley; Janet Napolitano, the secretary of homeland security, and Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration, which since last weekend has been setting up outposts in coastal communities stocked with water, meals, cots, blankets and other supplies for those displaced.

Mr. Obama said he also had called mayors and governors of coastal states to reinforce that the federal government is standing by to help with preparations, evacuations and any damage in the storm’s aftermath. For residents, he recommended two government Web sites for advice: Ready.gov or Listo.gov.