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Hurricane Irene: New York mayor orders evacuation

MORE than a quarter of a million people were fleeing their homes in New York City as Hurricane Irene reached the east coast of America.

The US National Guard lined New York streets with sand bags while residents were evacuated as Hurricane Irene threatened the city with storm surges Photograph: Mike Groll/AP Photo
The US National Guard lined New York streets with sand bags while residents were evacuated as Hurricane Irene threatened the city with storm surges Photograph: Mike Groll/AP Photo
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Bloomberg tells 370,000 people to flee low-lying areas ahead of storm surge as east coast is battered by ‘historic storm’

The 500-mile wide storm was expected to hit the city by early morning, bringing winds of around 85 mph (140km/h) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered an unprecedented evacuation of 370,000 people in low-lying areas.

Five people have died on the east coast, including an 11-year-old boy killed in Newport News, Virginia, as winds toppled a tree and sent it crashing through a block of flats.