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Irene Nears ‘Major’ Status

Hurricane became Category 3 on Wednesday.

cheats/2011/08/24/irene-nears-major-status/hurricane-irene-caribbean-cheat_dfbd2j

Roberto Guzman / AP Photo

Northeasterners could experience an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week. Hurricane Irene grew into a Category 3 storm Wednesday morning as it rushes toward the United States. The storm is expected to hit North Carolina first on Saturday and then continue to move up the coast toward the Northeast. Evacuations have already begun on North Carolina's Ocracoke Island, where 800 year-round citizens and tourists began leaving on ferries. The evacuation will test residents' preparedness for the first major East Coast hurricane in years; the first cars off the island had New York and New Jersey license plates.

Read it at Associated Press

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