UPDATE: McDonnell Gives Local Governments Power to Order Evacuations

UPDATE (6:42 p.m.): Gov. Bob McDonnell has given local governments the authority to order mandatory evacuations as they see fit.

He said he chose to empower local governments to be able to make the decision because "they are closer to the action and know what resources they've got and the specific terrain in their areas."

McDonnell retains the right to order evacuations, and local and state authorities have been working together for days.

"It's important for everyone to understand that Hurricane Irene is a very dangerous storm," he said. "... It is estimated to be a Category 2 or Category 3, but like all storms this far away with warm water between its current location and the Virginia border, there is always the potential for significant strengthening."

He said predictions show Virginia being "significantly impacted" by the storm, and residents should immediately begin preparing for possible floods, high winds and power outages, particularly in the southeastern part of the state.

The storm is expected to hit Virginia on Saturday morning and continue through Sunday, with the eye of the storm hitting the Virginia-North Carolina border at about 2 a.m. Sunday. Tropical storm force winds, which register at 39 mph or higher, could stay in the coastal areas for more than 30 hours. The coastal areas should also prepare for hurricane force winds, which begin at 74 mph.

Those who live in low-lying areas in other parts of the state should be aware of possible flooding, and listen for evacuation orders from their local governments.

Bridges and tunnels will likely be closed along the coastal areas once winds reach tropical storm force. The McDonnell administration has no plans to reverse lanes on Interstate 64.

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Gov. Bob McDonnell declared Virginia in a state of emergency Thursday morning, ahead of Hurricane Irene's arrival to the East Coast.

“We are issuing this state of emergency today as a precautionary measure in order to ensure that we are ready for any potential effects of Hurricane Irene in the Commonwealth," McDonnell wrote in a statement.

The statement urges residents to prepare for possible power outages or disruptions to public services, flooding or damage, and asks residents in Eastern Virginia to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. It also warns that winds could reach hurricane strength in the Hampton Roads area, and tropical storm force winds could extend much further inland.

The effects of the hurricane are dependent on the exact track of the storm.

National Hurricane Center and Weather Channel maps, issued Thursday morning, show the Category 3 hurricane on track to reach South Carolina around 8 a.m. Saturday, and will hit the coast of Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland early Sunday morning.

The Weather Channel has placed the threat level at "extreme" from North Carolina to southern New England. Hurricane Irene is expected reach 125 mph by Friday morning. At this time, sustained winds have reached 115 mph and the storm is moving NNW at 13 mph.

Declaring a state of emergency allows state resources to be made available. The following preparations are being made:

• Virginia Evacuation Coordination Team for Operational Response has activated to assess the storm’s potential impact and to take necessary actions. 
• Because of Tuesday's earthquake, the Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state’s response with increased staffing available 24 hours a day and is now at Response Condition.
• State Police and the Swift Water Rescue Team have been placed on stand-by and will be pre-positioned to the areas where they will be needed based on the final projected path of the hurricane.
• Chainsaw crews from the Virginia Department of Forestry are standing by with emergency response personnel and to help with debris removal.
• Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads and ensure roads are safe for travel.
• The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring personnel on state active duty and begin prepositioning resources.
• The Department of Health is coordinating with hospitals and long-term care facilities to ensure that they are prepared for storm impacts.