"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," he said. Obama said he ordered an aircraft carrier group out to sea to avoid this storm yesterday. "So if you're in the way of this hurricane, you should be preparing now," he said. Later in the night, Obama and his family arrived at the White House.
Obama declared a State of Emergency for the New York State.
National Weather Service issued hurricane warning for coastal areas from North Carolina to New York. "All indications point to this being a historic hurricane. Although we can't predict with perfect certainty the impact of Irene over the next few days, the federal government has spent the better part of last week working closely with officials in communities that could be affected by this storm to see to it that we are prepared. So now is the time for residents of these communities -- in the hours that remain -- to do the same," he said. Earlier, Obama held conference call with his top officials and reviewed the preparedness to deal with hurricane Irene. "This morning the President conducted a conference call with Chief of Staff Bill Daley, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, as well as FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate," White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh earnest said.
Obama also conducted a call with a number of governors and mayors from states and communities that are potentially in the line of this storm, Earnest said.
"He also made clear to them that the entire federal government is focused on bringing all available resources to bear on this effort and he directed his team to continue to make sure that there are no unmet needs," Earnest said.
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