Hampton Roads Advised to Make Preparations for Hurricane Earl.

This morning, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami issued a hurricane watch for coastal Virginia from the North Carolina border to Parramore Island and downgraded the storm to a Category 3 with the winds decreasing to 125 mph. At 8 a.m., the storm was located about 180 miles east of San Salvador and about 780 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.

While the storm is moving northwest at 16 mph, a new forecast track from the hurricane center predicts the storm will pass by farther east, keeping the worst of the winds away from Hampton Roads.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to declare a state of emergency today to give the National Guard and Virginia State Police time to prepare in case they are pressed into storm duty, The Associated Press was reporting.

The National Weather Service also is warning swimmers today that there is a high risk of rip currents along the coasts of both states.

About 5 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued a hurricane watch for the North Carolina coast beginning north of Surf City and ending at the Virginia border.

At Norfolk Naval Station, sailors worked to prepare the base and its ships for a possible hit. As of Tuesday evening, the Navy hadn’t issued orders to move the roughly three dozen vessels at the piers, but their crews were getting ready. If forecasts for Norfolk turn dire, all the ships will go to sea to avoid the worst of the winds, officials said.
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In Virginia, state officials advised residents to develop a family storm plan and emergency kit with stockpiles of three days’ worth of dry or canned food, drinking water and batteries for a radio and flashlight.

Verne Burlage, president of the Virginia Beach Hotel-Motel Association, owns the Quality Inn & Suites on 8th Street at the Oceanfront. Burlage said that although Hurricane Earl doesn’t appear to be a huge threat to Hampton Roads, he had one cancellation on Monday and another Tuesday.

“When they show that big cone on the television, it scares people,” Burlage said.

Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Barakey said that although the city was coordinating with the state, the National Weather Service and regional jurisdictions, evacuations hadn’t been considered. He said officials were not instituting emergency operation plans because it didn’t look like the storm will directly hit Hampton Roads. But the city was still preparing, he said.

The Oceanfront has several events planned for this weekend, including the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and the Neptune’s Fall Wine Festival.

“Right now, because of the storm’s path, we’re not planning to alter any of those events. But certainly we’re watching the storm very closely,” Barakey said.