According to The Weather Channel website, the potential is real for the strongest hurricane hit on the Northeast in at least a couple decades this weekend. Since Norton is in Irene’s path just in time for move-in date for students, the college has issued a precautionary plan.
Due to the weather, they will limit move-in on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
New students, who have been asked to move in to the residence halls on Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon for the CORE August orientation program, will be unaffected.
Find out what's happening in Nortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Students who had planned to arrive on Sunday should alter their plans to arrive on Monday, Aug. 29.
College staff will be available to hand out keys from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday in each residence area/quad. Returning students may also come to campus on Saturday afternoon between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. if they are unavailable Monday.
Find out what's happening in Nortonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The 5 a.m. EDT forecast discussion Tuesday from Stacy Stewart, Sr. Hurricane Specialist at the National Hurricane Center mentioned Hurricane Irene is "forecast to become a larger than average hurricane." The severity, however, remains uncertain at this time.
The strongest winds are projected to reach New England Sunday night into Monday. The forecast calls for 1 to 3 inches of rain in scattered severe thunderstorms Thursday. Heavy rain may arrive ahead of Irene's center Saturday and continue through Monday.
Hurricane Irene could be at least a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale by the time it reaches Norton.
HURRICANE PREPARATION TIPS
* Residents should re-stock portable radio batteries as well as re-fill propane cooking tanks
* Residents should check and fill prescriptions if possible
* Having some ready cash on hand
* Recharge cell phone batteries as late as possible
Hurricane Irene may make its way to Norton this weekend. Are you worried? How will you prepare?
Lisa Downey Sheedy: "Bread, pb+j, water bottles. Charge all the batteries and iPods and dsi's! These are all my kids priorities in life! Maybe coloring books for my 3 yr old!"
Check in with Norton Patch throughout the weekend for more weather updates. Have storm photos? Email them to Kelly.Mello@Patch.com.
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