Hurricane Earl is now a Category 3 hurricane and the third one this year in the Atlantic Ocean. It moved away from the Virgin Islands Aug. 30 as a Category 4 storm carrying winds of 135 mph. According to the National Hurricane Center, Earl's projected path will take the storm along the U.S. eastern seaboard. The NDW region shore line areas may experience some affect of Earl beginning today primarily in the form of gusty winds and possible storm surge that produces above normal tides with large dangerous battering waves. The areas expected to be more affected by the storm are coastal communities in Norfolk, Va. and from Cape Fear to Cape City in North Carolina.

Over this Labor Day holiday weekend command members and their families should not only take extra safety precautions in their travels and vacation activities especially at beaches where there are dangerous rip currents, but take time out to either develop or review their preparedness plans.

The following provides information and resources to help prepare to weather a storm.