that's the situation in new jersey.cross the river, the east river is beginning to overflow right now. abc's chris cuomo has been reporting this. you can see yourself leading to a foot of water in battery park. not far from there is sam champion in lowermanhattan. we are beginning to see the water rise there, sam. >> it would be the exact right time. here we are with battery park behind us. that is the tip of manhattan. we are in a high tide cycle right now. this is when we expected to see water breech that area and m me that move up against, not only that sea wall there, but alson the road surfaces on the lower east side and the real concern was, once we saw that happen, how much water would get there. how much sea water would get into this area. d could create problem was power and some other big problems in this area if we get much more. we'll continue to watch that. let's show you the radar though, this is where the heaviest lane is. this rain is opening up as this hurricane opens up. this storm you can really see i

that was unique to new jersey? >> well, i don't know if it was unique to new jersey. i think a few other states got it. it is really this storm was so certain in terms of its track, and so predictable in terms of what it was going to do that i think that what the states and the federal government decided jointly there's no reason to wait. we know there will be a state of emergency that exists and this allows fema resources to flow to the states and at the state level i signed it before the storm hit as well. that want allowed me to mobilize the national guard. we have over 2,000 citizen soldiers and airmen would who are deployed now across the state helping with search-and-rescue and helping to man shelters and do other tasks that we need have done to get things back to normal. >> new jersey governor chris christie. thanks for spending part of your money with us here on msnbc. good luck, sir. >> alex thanks. let everybody in new jersey stay home so they can stay safe. >> let's go nbc meteorologist kaurns cairns and take a look at new jersey. you heard the governor tal

in delmar, new jersey. this is the new jersey coastline. belmar. okay. thank you.elling in my ear, sometimes it's hard to understand. it looks like a beautiful day out there. again, so far we're not seeing any of the effects of this storm coming in for the new jersey, new york, delaware area, it looks like a pretty nice day so far. where we are starting to see those effects is the north carolina where they're getting the rain and some rough surf out there as well. we'll find out if people listen to the officials and get out of dodge ahead of the storm. quick break here. we'll be right back. >>> welcome back to msnbc, pennsylvania has just added its state to the list of those in state of emergencying ahead of irene's arrival. governor chris christie is talking about his state's preparation plans. >> we are working on making sure that we have appropriate evacuations for folks who can't evacuate themselves. jim simpson whose here, the commissioner of transportation and jim wine steen the executive director of new jersey transit are working to supply bus assets to move

ineps not just new jersey. can abasething beat about it? >> we had the army corps of engineers sugh dying this for 9 cuears. 7 solutions three out of the top five was to build a tunnel. >> actappenlly two tunne that wide from here to the north day. it would alleviate flooding forever. >> get the water past these areas in new york bay. >> i will hold my breath for that one. they are not gs rail tunnel from new jersey to new york to millions of conow uters i donred c thi ia w build this tunnel that has 300 citizens. >> there are there sewers or septic tanup i in that coma tne and what about that volushia? >> geraldo was asking are there sewers or cesspoo that whaneps happening with the wates? >> the sanitary system is fine. >> the pneping station gets flooded and they have to be taken off. >> drinking water? ld> they wilwillnot have are tc for absolutely not. >> what about the tunnel she ea? >> it was a tunnel back in the mid 80s. >> it was such a heavily he shall niezed area was snel cessfuink ld> ho? an that be contemplated in this day and

over a million have left the jersey shore in the last 24 hours. and it has been done with very little traffic disturbance, very few reports of people having to sit in long lines of traffic. and that's a credit to the local officials who helped with the evacuation and a credit to the d.o.t. commissioner and the state police who put together the traffic plans to execute that and i thank all of them and all the people of new jersey, both folks who are residents of the jersey sure and those folks who were there vacationing for heeding our warning and for leaving. we have, now, according to ocean county officials 95 percent of long beach island vacated. there are few remaining residents who have refused to evacuate. but 95 percent of the folks on the island are evacuated and reports from cape may that 98 percent of cape may county is now evacuated. again, few stragglers but over all a majority are evacuated. and atlantic county a report from the barrier island that 90 percent of the people are evacuated from the barrier areas of atlantic county. the co

speak to us about the "jersey shore"! >> jimmy: "jersey shore." [ laughter ] "jersey shore."ughter ] [ hits one note harshly ] >> hahaha. good one, greg. the trutheth, is what you thou speaketh! now tell us, if you will, of snooki! >> jimmy: i knew a girl named snooki. [ laughter ] a vodka shot she took-y. she met a juice head, then went to bed. with a pickle in her cookie! [ laughter ] >> classic greg. you speaketh, what the rest of us merely doth thinketh! [ laughter ] it's as if your words hath given birth to themselves and raised them betwixt the bulging bosoms of brilliance. now ruminate on he who calls himself "the situation." [ laughter ] >> jimmy: "the situation" has a hairless chest. on that we can all agree. but underneath his boxer briefs, it's a hairy situation indeed. [ laughter ] [ harsh flute playing ] >> never a truer word hath been spoken from thy most mouthful of mouths! it's as though your wisdom itself has grown dragon wings, allowing it to fly high above mankind and release its droppings on the unsuspecting heads of thy enemies! bravo, greg! >> jimmy: all

incredible flooding in edgewater, new jersey. also a tweet coming in that the cranes are still intact at the world trade center in new york. there was concern that the cranes were secure and some things that people are saying online in observations regarding flooding in edgewater, new jersey, at least the cranes intact at the world trade center site. keep it locked on msnbc for continuing coverage. we will go back to rhode island where conditions are worsening by the minute and we want to hear how the storm is effecting you. keep in contact with us via twitter. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] unlike some car companies, nissan is running at 100% which means the most innovative cars, are also the most available cars. nissan, innovation for today. innovation for all. a living, breathing intelligence that's helping drive the future of business. in here, inventory can be taught to learn. ♪ machines have a voice. ♪ medical history follows you. it's the at&t network -- a network of possibilities... committed to delivering the most advanced mobil

we are in spring lake, new jersey which is called the jewel of the jersey shore.nickname. but just want to show you real quickly some of the flooding that this area is dealing with now. this is across between a huge pond which is out in that direction and the ocean. the two combined. there some water that comes down from the nearby townships. it causes all of this flooding. i want to show you video from earlier. we've been here in south jersey since about 1:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon in our mobile two unit. basically, taking in as much video as we could. again, with this technology we were able to be here on ocean avenue which is the main drag on driving on right now which runs right along the coastline here in the jersey shore area the entire distance. it runs for miles him, as a matter of fact. we were able to stay up and broadcast late last night and early this morning when conditions were at their worst here at jersey shore. lindh was coming down, the tide, the storm surge had inundated most of ocean avenue. like i said, it's this boulevard right along the je

new jersey the aforementioned new jersey suffering a prooe have yous hurt from the hurricane.half million are still without power iconal pdin the rivera todmiwl. the t threatens to disrupt and delay the region's return to normal normaak.y. mike tobin is at one of the sites. tell us what you are seeing and what's the big pication re ther? >> i tell you what, we are trying to get north and you couldn't do it. every where we drove we ended up going toward another obstacle here isst leabe this road las5 deep under water. delaware, all of them many others coming up and over their ng to acks. we just got word from the new jersey department of environmental protection the ground was aaileai before irene. now the screen streams and tributaries have been inundated with water. right now they are predicting about 48-hours and some are going to peak at record levels. there was a guy up here valentino capone told us a story of watching the storm from his window. opened the basement door and saw everything was flooded. he had five minow ttes to gathep his dog and wife and get in the back of

>> to be fair in northern new jersey it was the cradle of the industrial revolution. these towns were established long before the knolowedge of floodplains the modeling we have today was available. ie whs hard to disinvest in an area that was highly developed. >> there are new homes that flood every 8 years or less. >> worted kng in conhere iscont the state of new jersey there have been measures taken. there is no cheap solution is the problem to the flooding in the northern part of new jersey whether you find another way to move water out whether it's under ground or above ground when you put protection feaatios in it whether you buoy people out if you have structures to start at the second story only none of it is cheap. >> none of it is cheap. stand by. we are going to have more into that flooding aspect of this story. it will be the he heabe fine tow i guarantee it. mike talbin will be life on the scene right after this short commercial break. here isst leabe this road las5 deep under water. delaware, all of them many others coming up and over their ng to acks.

wayne, new jersey, 10.2.hat kind of rain falling in short time on saturated ground causes all kinds of flooding and we knew that would happen and that turned out to be the case. parts of pennsylvania, a lot of upstate or the northern part of jersey up towards the delaware water gap. and look at all of the counties. parts of maine. a lot of vermont, a lot of vermont. around massachusetts and the berkshires. the rain still falling at rapid rates and causing big problems for them still. >> shepard: rick reichmuth live in the fox extreme weather center. we are supposed to go a town break and we are going to. sea side heights new jersey is a place you might have heard of on that tv show and appears that they are coming back to sea side heights so the world is saved. we'll be right back in just a moment with continuing coverage of what is left of the storm. i'm shepard smith shepar. ohill nice to have you in. defends al constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating. with the strains of good bacteria to help balance your

no new jersey transit. to talk about the airplane coming in and out of the city, all cancelled flights, newark, new jersey and jfk international, la guardia, the three biggest, all of those airports are open for people to seek shelter. but no flights will be going out. as for public transportation, shut down until late monday. that will be a monday morning nightmare of a commute for a lot of new york residents. as we wait for the hurricane to come nwe are expecting 70-mile-per-hour winds, a category 1. certainly not strong for those of you who are sitting in florida, new york city, nevertheless, a very big deal and we are told by the new york city police commissioner, ray kelly, who spoke with me earlier, that in fact, new yorkers are complying. they are compliant for once. they have heeded the evacuation. we will be continuing to watch and see how new yorkers weather this storm as hurricane irene makes its way, close to new york city. >> thank you, julie. glad people are listening to those warnings. a lot

that's new jersey.re's hope, there's promise that hurricane irene will barrel on through and we'll live to see another day and be a brighter one. let's hope so. stay with us everyone. we have more coverage on msnbc. we'll be right back after a short break.

. >> nueva jersey y nueva york. sin aeropuertos y sin servicios. >> estÁ rodeado de funcionarios de seguridad nacional, afirmÓ que serÁn largas 72 horas las que estÁn por venir. se confirma haber matado en pakistÁn al 2 de alqaeda. >> este es el noticiario de univisiÓn. >> buenas noches comenzamos con las noticias que tienen en vilo a muchas personas en la parte este del paÍs. el huracÁn irene despuÉs de entrar en tierra, continÚa avanzando, vientos huracanados de la categorÍa uno hacia el interior del paÍs. >> cuÉntanos la situaciÓn en estos instantes. >> fetal retardo, saludo a todos los televidentes, continuamos aquÍ en una ciudad que sigue siendo azotada por fuertes vientos del huracÁn catarina. habla del tamaÑo de este huracÁn, ha bajado de categorÍa, pero los vientos son bastantes fuertes, hace casi 11 horas que el huracÁn irene pasÓ por estas zonas y se sigan experimentando fuertes vientos, ni siquiera con fuerza de tormenta tropical sino huracanados. tomen las medidas necesarias, acaso lo que dicen las autor

one is all the water that's fallen especially in new jersey on the saturated soils. some case top five all time, other cases top ten. the delaware river runs this way, and this is where the water will be quickly rising, down right along the small river town is where we're going to see the worst of this flooding. that will be peaking soon. to the right of your screen is the center of the storm heading two westchester county and stamford. we have the rivers in jersey, as we go out wider, the ear concern is areas around southern new england, we've been watching the high water, but also watching the radar up there. it look likes we're about to get some strong winds in the bothing area, all through massachusetts, these are the higher gusts. we've watching this 53 mirp gust, and also 49 in bridgeford. we're still getting very strong wind gusts knocking out power. you do not want to be outside in areas from boston to providence to hartford, springfield, that's where we're going to see the best chance of trees coming down. we have this one strong band heading to the north, s

michelle miller is in northern new jersey. >> reporter: this downed tree in maplewood, new jersey, has become a life and death obstacle for pam kattouf. >> i was out of my mind hysterical. >> reporter: the tree has left her in the dark and unable to care for her disabled husband and autistic son. >> my husband is very uncomfortable right now, he's got a lot of injuries from his accident, and i just feel like it's not a safe place. >> reporter: nearby, people are finding themselves relying on neighbors. in the other end of an orange extension cord. >> literally ran downstairs. >> reporter: at the height of the storm, andrea's power went out and so did her only defense against flooding, her sump pump. she reached out to a friend who plugged her right in. >> i mean that is our life line. it really, without it we would have had a complete disaster in our basement. >> the water level was up to here. if you look over here can you see the results of it. >> reporter: 15 miles away in morristown, new jersey, 10,000 people are still without power. here's why. the last time this electrical substa

new jersey had been spared. however, the associated presses now reporting that a woman has been found decided in her car on a flooded new jersey road. state police tell the associated press the woman had called for help early sunday morning, she was in salem county. that call was made about 1:40 a.m. eastern time. she was found decent less than two hours ago now. >>> also the bad news from new jersey, the holland tunnel, that is closed to traffic exiting new york city, that northbound -- the north tube, it is called, but bound for new jersey, that has been closed. mass transit is still not running in the state, but it wears repeating, there has been one person killed as a result of flooding in the state of new jersey, a woman found dead a couple hours ago. that's bad news to have to report there. >>> let's go to natalie morales, who is live in hoboken, new jersey, across from lower manhattan. with another good morning, it looks like the fog is coming back. we're not still out of the woods. >> reporter: we certai

okay, natalie morales standing by in hoboken, new jersey, covering things. one person has died in maryland as a result of hurricane irene. a woman in queen anne's county was killed after a tree fell on her house, causing her chimney to collapse. state police say a tornado touched down in the lower eastern shore. maryland's emergency management agency says 780,000 homes and businesses are without power. let's go to nbc's tom costello in ocean city, maryland where things are brighter today. you certainly weathered something horrific yesterday. >> well just when you thought you could take off the rain gear, here comes another band of rain, i'm getting awfully wet here. but we're told that this is really just the last band or the last finger, if you will of rain from the back end of irene as it is way up that way. in your back yard. we are doing a quick assessment here in ocean city. and the delmarva peninsula, and police are saying so far they don't see any significant damage. we do have power out to certain areas along the peninsula. we are still without power

. >> behind the scenes of "jersey shore's" italian vacation. >>> and, in the heights. it is the craziest, scariest, highest night's sleep an amateur climber can imagine. after pitching a bed and breakfast on owe semideep's el capitan. but man, is it worth the view. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," august 3rd, 2011. >> good evening, i'm bill weir. and we begin tonight with what could be a break in one of the most intriguing cold cases in our country's history in the early '70s, a hijacker calling himself d.b. cooper jumped from a flight and disappeared in the woods of the pacific northwest. his fate remained unknown. his true identity a mystery, that is, perhaps, until now. thanks to this exclusive interview with abc's pierre thomas. >> i'm certain he was my uncle, lynn doyle cooper. >> reporter: this woman has reignited the investigation into the only unsolved hijacking in u.s. hihiory. her name is marla cooper. and she says her uncle is the infamous hijacker,.b.

brian, 1944 had a storm on the jersey shore, cut long beach island in two pieces. it rearranged the map. is that what we're talking about potentially here? >> it's very possible. 1944, a great atlantic hurricane was actually well offshore and this hurricane is forecast to be closer to the jersey shore. we have been looking at that 1944 hurricane, we have also been looking at an 1821 hurricane which also ran right along the jersey shore and into new york city and caused tremendous flooding all around the fledgling city at that time. >> is there any good model of the spaghetti noodle graphics, the hurricane projections you can cling on to for folks who need a little bit hope? is there anything that's going to come along and steer this thing out, perhaps something coming across the country? >> we don't think that a significant probably hurricane of a lifetime event can be avoided, brian. but it doesn't mean that every single spot is going to get that kind of a disaster. we can't pin down exactly where it's going to be, but the way the u.s. coast kind of juts out and t

, new jersey and beyond.f people in and around the city of new york have lost power. at least four million total up and down the eastern sea where. irene is blamed for killing 12 people in five states that's the new number in hour. some of the deaths in traffic crashes. others when trees pop pell on to cars on homes. -- toppled on to cars and homes. this morning the president was scheduled to speak to discuss the federal government's response to hurricane irene. first our chief meteorologist rick right mut on this storm. how is it looking -- >> moving quick, 26 miles an hour north northeast. the center well to the north of new york city moving up the hudson river valley it is going to continue to move quickly. 8:00 tonight northern new hampshire the center of it. still rain to be had for the most part we are going to be calming down especially across more populated areas. look at this picture somebody sent to me on twitter. one of the rain bands moving into north carolina yesterday. that's the band moving in

that's where we are in new jersey.course, proving to be a big after math of irene as well as what she brought. >> indeed, nbc's michelle franzen in central new jersey in manville where the waters are still rising today. >>> of course, natural disasters when mishandled can become political disasters and eager not to repeat the mistakes of the past, east coast governors and mayors sponed to irene aggressively. one memorable moment came from new jersey's governor chris christie. >> i saw news feeds of people sitting on the beach in asbury park. get the hell off the beach in asbury park and get out. you're done. it's 4:30. you've maximized your tan. get off the beach. >> msnbc contributor chris is managing editor of politics.com. never shy to put it straight. these moments are very important for leaders to get it right. when they blow it in these situations, boy, do the voters remember. >> absolutely. we've seen this if it's a hurricane, a snowstorm. there's the image of george w. bush peering down from a plane over hurric

haven't you see new jersey's tourism ads. >> in new jersey 44 people were arrested in a federal sting today including three mayors, and five rabbies. everything from bribery to selling organs. >> new jersey and you. perfect together. (applause) >> jon: we'll be right back. wlingz. >> my guest tonight an act ris. >> you know, we've never actually met. >> actually, we have, several times. >> have we? >> you crashed my birthday party, called pie juliy and-- down my top. >> well, i'm sorry about that. >> in, not at all. you're delightful. >> was i. >> no, look, if you are's not julie. >> i'm emma, emma morley. >> listen, i'll walk you home. >> i can tell you what is weird, she's not actually graduate until that film, it's just a hat she likes. please welcome back to the show anne hathaway. young lady. (applause) how are you? >> i'm good. i'm good. can i help with you something? >> jon: no, i was looking, i thought i had had pens down there but i have this one. hold on. >> so these are the nerds? (cheers and applause) my people! >> jon: they notice the world of war kraft font like that's s

over to long branch, new jersey, one of the most damaging storms in new jersey's history, back yards, basements, highways, streets, completely flooded, winds in excess of 30, 40, 50 miles per hour. the video coming out of long branch, new jersey is just devastating. finally we go to marian, massachusetts, this is a coastal town of massachusetts, where trees are down, thousands upon thousands of people are still without wer. we had wind gusts in excess of 70 miles per hour across this region of massachusetts. so as you can see, the damage continues to come in, in video, and we are looking at the least 13 states affected by this storm, killing at least two dozen people. bill: you know, the point on that, janice, the winds were not what everyone expected. that's okay. but it's the flooding and the water that has followed on the storm. janice, i want to show you some videotape out of vermont, okay? there were three historic covered bridges built in 1870, they were wiped out on the williams river and they just disappeared in a matter of seconds. >> reporter: unbelievable. bill: so that's o

now in new jersey the concern is flooding.resh round of eye vac ways as the rivers continue to rise. >> the real issue we're going to have to deal with is flooding. this storm is transitioning into a flooding event. some rivers haven't crested yesterday, and it's still raining. this very, very heavy rain is going to lead to further flooding. the blackwater river we're expecting to crest on tuesday at a major flood stage leave, 20.6 feet. similarly the nataway river, cresting at moderate flood stage on tuesday. so we urge the residents in those areas to continue to prepare. >>> we want the latest. let's go to bill karins. i want to talk about the flooding events. let's start with tracking irene. the first thing first, we still have people with trees falling and losing power. we're not done with the destruction. it started about yesterday morning when it made landfall at north carolina, and she hasn't stone since then. i was amassed with the pictures from montauk. hurricanes make the ocean very, very angry. those waves will be u

one new jersey congressman says, quote, even though the storm has passed, many areas in new jersey areh dangerous flooding. i urge you to visit new jersey to see first-hand the damage this storm has caused. i'm joined now by democratic congressman from new jersey frank pallone. thank you for joining us. we know there's a lot going on within your state that needs attention. let's talk about this. house republican leaders want to match spending for disaster we -- relief with cuts elsewhere. it seems that communities trying to rebuild this year in the midwest and south are going to have to wait for funds diverted from hurricane irene. so do you see the crucial need for additional disaster aid and right now? >> absolutely, thomas. traditionally, at the federal level, we have appropriated these funds through appropriation bills. i think that makes sense. i see no reason why we should say that in the case of a i d disast disaster, an emergency declaration, we have to make cuts in other federal areas whether it be defense or domestic programs when the need is immediate. it is going to be sign

have declared states of new jersey. hurricane watches and warnings are posted this morning from north carolina to new jersey. if irene continues on track, it would be the strongest hurricane to hit the east coast in seven years. forecasters predict irene will hug the coast, heading straight up the i-95 corridor. it's expected to hit north carolina as a category 3 storm early tomorrow, then head north and slam into new york early sunday, before pushing up into new england. president obama has already declared a national state of emergency in north carolina. drew levenson is in kill devil hills on the outer banks where they're already beginning to feel the effects. good morning, drew. what's the latest there? >> reporter: good morning, betty. the surf is really starting to kick up here along the north carolina coast as we are bracing for a direct hit from hurricane irene tomorrow. right now it is a category 3 hurricane but forecasters predict as this hurricane moves across the warm waters, it could become a cat 4. up and

right now the cooperation between new jersey and fema has been great. i'm going to call secretary napolitano shortly to ask for more help. >> i know you were concerned at the time. it was 600 seniors in these atlantic city high-rises who are not leaving. what could you tell us about efforts to protect them? >> the last-ditch effort i referenced yesterday afternoon, we gotot00 or so to leave and to evacuate. now we're dealing with 100 seniors who refused to evacuate. as soon as it's safe to travel. the office of emergency management in atlantic county is already check on these folks to make sure they are okay. they lost power in a number of buildings as early as 10:00 last night. the county officials are going to check on those folks. as soon as we have those reports we'll share that with the public. >> why do people not leave their homes at times like this? >> i think it's a combination of things. you know, jake, new jersians are tough, cynical, hard-edged folks. they think the "cry wolf" syndrome. it's all over tv but never as bad as they tell you. tha

as i said we're in point beach, new jersey, president pleasant beach at the river inlet. a place on this shoreline that any veteran of this shoreline knows well. and to look at it tonight it is an otherwise beautiful late s e summer evening. we have guys on jet skis and families with small children patting around in the tidal pools. but the problem is these looks don't count for anything because it's about to go south. in a big hurry. with us now, the man in charge of emergency preparation and dealing with all of this on behalf of his state, governor of new jersey chris christie. governor, do you feel that your warnings and some of them have been very full throated as late as this afternoon? have been heeded? i, for example, can't remember when the garden state parkway is heading one direction. the contra flow is under way tonight starting at about this point in the state going north. >> you know, brian, listen, i think we still have work to do in getting folks to heed the warning. you know new jerseyans are tough and they're hard edged. and they think they've seen it all

new jersey transit is shut down.irst time that subways have been shut down due to weather in new york city history. a category 1 70 miles per hour winds is not sounding serious for those in the south, it is for new york. we should mentio the five burroughs including coney island and battery park city and rockaways and the queens, they are under mandatory evacuation . the bridges are a concern. manhattan is an island. in order to get to manhattan and out. you have to travel over a bridge or through a tunnel. bridges will shut down if the winds get to 60 miles per hour or over. think about air travel. five major airports and the three biggest is newark in new jersey and jfk international in new york where rick wright said may be where the city hurricane touches down and then la guardia airport.

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jersey looking at it, baltimore and d.c. it was hours ago that we were reporting flooding and that rain is stretching northward to new england, across connecticut and portions of massachusetts. right now, fortunately, no tornado warnings in effect, as they come out, we will update you right away. we have a number of flood advisories stretching up into maine and the flashflood warnings where we are looking at the worst flooding in portions of western connecticut and eastern new york, down in through new jersey, philadelphia and atlantic city and delaware as well in a flashflood warning. the storm system is a category 1 hurricane. it's still a hurricane. so it's held together very well. there is dry air to the south of the storms, but don't be fooled. if you get dryer weather, or it sounds quieter in your area and have you not been told that you can go outside, do not do so. i'm expectingly -- i'm expecting landfall in long island, 11:00 a.m. local time. tell continue over vermont and new hampshire, sustained winds still at 65

a lot along the jersey shore.hese people scrambling to protect their property right now. >> we're boarding up the windows, preparing for the hurricane. >> this is a lifetime event, you know. this never happened. three days ago, earthquake. now this. mother nature, what are you going to do? >> martha: what will you going to do? mother nature. she's so right. julie banderas is dealing with mother nature down there at battery park city in lower manhattan. how is it going and how are new yorkers getting ready for this event? >> let me tell you, our new york officials have been very busy for the last 24 hours. in fact, andrew cuomo's office releasing a statement moments ago that there has been an earthquake in new york, southwest of there, 2.9. not a strong one, probably most likely after aftershock. but certainly you would never think as a new yorker that you would be experiencing a hurricane and earthquake all in one week. but that is indeed what new yorkers are being prepared for. andrew cuomo's office releasing inf

plus, a live update from the jersey shore. also a look inside the storm with a brave group of hurricane hunters. it is all ahead in our continuing coverage of hurricane irene. keep it right here on msnbc. [ female announcer ] so you think your kids are getting enough vegetables? maybe not. v8 v-fusion juice gives them a full serving of vegetables plus a full serving of fruit. but it just tastes like fruit. [ male announcer ] get five dollars in money-saving coupons at v8juice.com. >>> we're looking at live pictures right now on atlantic beach, north carolina, where hurricane irene is expected to come ashore around 8:00 a.m. eastern this morning. we're just speaking with our kerry sanders moments ago. you can see him off to the right in the shot. he's trying to hunker down and get to safety. just moments ago he was getting hit hard by one of those outer rain bands. we're going to go to our meteorologist jeff rainieri. what was he experiencing? >> that was right near the eye wall of the storm. looks like it's going to stay prett

there were 700 boat rescues today in just the state of new jersey. it goes on and on and connecticut, 1,000 roads, at least, still blocked. north carolina, this storm changed the map of the outer banks as they had feared. crippled infrastructure in new england. these power outages, 500,000 in connecticut. 300,000 in new jersey, have, as you might imagine, dramatically cut into the quality of life and people's ability to make a living. we begin with michelle franzen. she is in manville, new jersey, michelle, good evening. >> reporter: you mentioned the water rescues. it's not hard to believe when you're dealing with this storm. people are still not trying to escape the floodwaters. they are overwhelmed with the cleanup. rising rivers unleashed more pain today in the northeast. and help rushed in just as quickly to those areas hardest hit by irene. in patterson, new jersey, one family after another were rescued by boat as their homes and neighborhood fell victim to floodwaters. tonight, mandatory evacuations were ordered for 1,000 families in wallingto

and thank all the people of new jersey, both folks who are residents of the jersey shore, and those folks who were there vacationing, for heeding our warnings and for leaving. you know, we have now according to ocean county officials 95% of long beach island is vacated. there are few remaining residents who have refused to evacuate, but 95% of those folks on long beach island are evacuated. we have reports from cape may county that 98% of cape may county is now evacuated. again, few stragglers staying over, but overall in the majority are evacuated. atlantaic county, we have a report from the barrier islands that about 90% of the people are evacuated from the barrier areas of atlantic county. the concern in particular right now is atlantic city. let me talk to you about that. while we have been extraordinarily successful in evacuating most of atlantic city, we have had some remaining people who refused to leave. these are predominantly senior citizens, about 600 of them or so that live in high rise buildings in atlantic city. we're particularly concerned about them in these high rise buil

we're going to hear from new jersey governor chris christie. he'll give us the latest on that situation, very hard hit. he will take to the podium. we'll bring it to you live as soon as it happens. >>> meantime, slaervermont has n a big hit. the governor joins us now on the telephone. governor what is the situation in your state right now? >> well, we're being absolutely pummeled in the state of vermont. irene is dumping huge loads of water on us. we virtually have flooding from the southern end of the state to it northern end. it's now running up to the northern end of the state. virtually the entire state is impacted. we have over 100 roads closed. extraordinary washouts of bridges, roads, homes. one loss of what we believe to be a loss of life. we're still hopeful that a young woman was standing next to the river in wilmington and last seen by her boyfriend floating down the river. we haven't been able to locate her, or her body. so we're just really in tough shape up here as so many others are doing what the states are. >> and we understand

it's a beautiful day here in new jersey. last night that while waters are receding, it could take several days before -- or some towns that is, could be under water in passaic county for several days. >> school starts this week or next, depending on the district. it's going to be a little hairy in the meantime while they figure out whatted top. some town over the hill perfect fine and trees down. as soon as you get down near the river, wow. a lot of water. mary snow, thanks. >>> over in texas, they have never seen so many fires in a single year. a record 3 1/2 million acres have been burned so far and not over yet. the latest fire is raging 50 miles west of dallas/ft. worth, well over two dozen structures destroyed and more than a hundred others are in harm's way and have been evacuated. ground zero for this widening disaster is possum kingdom lake, texas. kttv joins us live this morning is stephanie. what is the situation there, stephanie? all right. we can't hear stephanie right now. we will work on getting her audio back

poppy harlow joins us from millburn, new jersey. i'm telling you that new jersey is soaked.soaked all spring and now this water has nowhere to go but into basements, businesses and streets. >> that's right. we saw it, christine, firsthand all weekend long. just unbelievable what irene did to new jersey, even inland parts. we'll show you video that's astonishing of the flooding in near by secaucas. governor christie taking a aerial view, flying around the state, warned of a major flooding incident in the next two days because as you've said you have the swollen rivers and now governor christie says you have dams at risk. a huge problem for people across new jersey. want to bring you out and show you the river in millburn. this river it crested came all the way over this, came into the street across into all the businesses here on main street, christine. i spent the day in all these businesses, flooded basements. want you to take a look at all the damage it did to one restaurant in millburn. take a look. >> we're going to go seat basement. if we can look at the floor it's full

good evening. >> reporter: here in new jersey, 650,000 people are still without power and along the jersey shore more than a million have been evacuated. and the strong winds, they're still here. irene's eye may have passed new jersey, but the storm's outer band still have its sights set on the state. the governor says threats of flooding could continue for the next two days. >> some rivers haven't crested yet and it's still raining in various parts of the state. >> reporter: in atlantic city irene's storm surge overflowed the barrier island's back bay. sending water into some neighborhoods but not nearly as much as what many feared. >> we are a block from the ocean, a block from the bay. we thought it was going to meet, and as you see on the street, there's nothing. so we are very, very lucky. >> reporter: in northern new jersey, floodwaters nearly swallowed cars. cbs news early show anchor chris wragge spent nearly 24 hours driving along the jersey shore. >> you can see now we've got the water coming over the retaining walls here, at the avon by the sea. >> reporter: throughout the state

it's no longer going over new jersey, it's just off the coast of new jersey. so that would keep some of the strongest storm surge off the new jersey coastline. the track is still wobbling here and. there it's supposed to make category three early saturday. wilmington, this forecast looks better for you. >> thank you very much. across the east coast, residents are bracing for irene, especially in north carolina, that's where president obama has already declared a state of emergency. nbc's kristen dahlgren has more from the outer banks of north carolina. >> reporter: good morning. this is likely to be one of the first areas on the u.s. mainland to feel the effects and the national weather service is already -- some of those increased waves from hurricane irene are hitting the north carolina coastline. they say six to nine-foot swells coming in now, that suspected to get much worse tlhrough today. we could feel tropical storm-force winds later tonight and conditions continuing to deteriorate as the storm moves closer and getting worse going into saturday. there h

in new jersey, flooding is the big problem in a good part of the northeast.ireporter happens to be a professional photographer for the new jersey devils hockey team. he says the water reached above his knees and that he saw a park bench that had moved -- he saw that bench had been lifted and moved across the street. that is the force of the water that so many people along the eastern seaboard have experienced. new york still getting a good brunt of tropical storm irene. it is still coming down. it also is serving up some pretty severe winds, as well. we've got on the phone with us right now new york governor andrew cuomo. you've had a chance, governor, to get around your state, your state already experiencing at least a million people without power. what have you assessed? >> well, as you said, the storm -- the worst of the storm has passed, but we're feeling its damage all across the state. flooding, power outages, about a million people, number of people -- we've lost a number of people to fatalities from flooding. so the worst has passed. it's not as bad a

here is craig in fairfield new jersey. >> the streets of fairfield new jersey are already flooded this is just the beginning of the flood stage. all a result of hurricane irene. i am with deputy chief anthony mannah the fairfield police. have you ever seen anything like this? >> 1984 we had a very, very bad flood. but the levels are expected to be worse th worse now than they were in 84. >> we are in the back of a truck using these trucks to evacuate many of the residents. you have a job here. >> the resources normally allocated to fairfield are being deployed throughout the state. we are on our own for the first 24-48-hours of this event. >> normally this event we would see with the nor' easter but what's different here? >> basically the rapid rise of the water over the last 234 hour period a lot of wasserer was dropped as well as upstate new york. >> m how many residents do you have in this community? >> 9,000 residents. what happens during the day during the monday through friday workweek we elevate anywhere from if 60,000 people. the work we are trying to get out is just because of

we have you chord from maryland and new jersey.ostello, and nbc's michelle franzen in asbury park for us. tom, we'll start with you. how does it look there. >> it's starting to rain here, and it has been doing so for a couple of hours. about an hour ago we had high tide, but the sea has been churning and churning, and we are expecting the whole force of this hurricane to come ashore here on the outer bank, if you will, on the barrier island of the delmarva peninsula. sometime in the overnight hours. probably 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. they're talking about ten to 12 inches of rain here, and especially here in ocean city where we have had a mass exodus. 200,000 people evacuated ocean city yesterday after a mandatory order for evacuation came to the police department. the police department also then went door to door to door and telling people if you refuse to leave we need to know who your next of kin is so we can notify them in the event that something terrible happens and we have to, you know -- we find your remains, and we have to te

the storm is bearing in on new jersey at this time. the center of circulation is pushing in just off of atlantic city. this is going to be where the brunt of the surge comes in. this is going to be where the worst of the winds come in. we're getting wind gust reports up into new york city, 64 miles per hour. that's one big thing about this storm. this thing is a monster. i've never seen the wind field on a hurricane this large. the tropical storm force winds extend out more than 300 miles. the hurricane-force winds stretch out 125 miles. none of the other hurricanes, katrina, hugo, none of them have had winds stretch out this far. it's a category 1, a minimal hurricane at this time. that's great news as this thing continues to move up the coast. it can't strengthen any more. it can only weaken at this point. we don't expect it to weaken very much, though. there's a difference between a strong tropical storm and a weak category 1 hurricane. keep that in mind when we say it's gotten weaker. let's talk about the impacts already taking pla