New York became the latest state to declare a state of emergency in a scramble to get ahead of Hurricane Irene as the storm prepares to make a potentially deadly drive up the US East Coast. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's declaration last night follows those of Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, whose state is projected to take the first hit Saturday when Hurricane Irene makes landfall in the U.S. Right now, Hurricane Irene is a Category 3 storm with winds clocked at nearly 130 mph as it raked over the Bahamas on Thursday. But it has the potential to grow in force and intensity to a Category 4 storm before reaching the easternmost reaches of North Carolina. The storm has abruptly interrupted vacation plans for families and visitors in those areas as authorities order them to move to safety.
