Irene weakens for now, but could menace Eastern Seaboard

Federal officials warned the storm could flood streets and knock down power lines as far north as New England.

Irene lost some of its punch yesterday afternoon and was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as it lashed the Turks and Caicos Islands, but it is expected the storm will regain strength and become a major hurricane before making a US landfall.

The hurricane has raked the Caribbean and could cause serious problems along the entire Eastern Seaboard, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate said yesterday during a conference call with reporters. Fugate urged people not to become complacent, even though the forecast is still uncertain and the storm may be days from hitting the United States.

“We need to remind people, hurricanes are not just a Southern thing. This could be the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast coast,’’ Fugate said. “We’ve got a lot of time for people to get ready, but we don’t have forever.’’

Officials on North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island were taking no chances.

Tourists were ordered to evacuate today, while residents were told to be off the island by tomorrow, said Tommy Hutcherson, who serves on the local board that issues such orders.

Hutcherson, who also owns the Ocracoke Variety Store, said authorities have to issue such orders early because of the limited capacity of the ferries. Still, that doesn’t mean everyone will leave.

“I’ll be here,’’ said Hutcherson, a 29-year resident who has ridden out numerous past storms. “A lot of the locals will choose to stay.’’

The barrier island is accessible only by boat. It is 16 miles long and mostly undeveloped, with a town at the southern tip.

Caitlin Blue, who works at the Kure Beach Fishing Pier, said yesterday that employees were preparing to board up the windows.

“That’s really all you can do,’’ said Blue, 17. “Everybody’s a little apprehensive, especially the owner of the pier. This one is supposed to come right down on us.’’

The Kure pier has been rebuilt twice after being destroyed by hurricanes - Hazel in 1954 and the double hit in 1996 from Bertha and Fran.

Many people already have begun stocking up on essentials such as bottled water, gasoline, and plywood for boarding up windows. But on North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach, a popular tourist destination, only a few wispy clouds dotted the sky on a 90-degree day. Bronzed sunbathers strolled around in bathing suits and towels, and traffic was heavy - most cars were headed toward the beach, not away from it.

However, most in the area were getting ready. Irene was the main topic of conversation at Craft American Hardware, not far from Wrightsville Beach, where people were trooping all day to pick up emergency supplies for the storm.

“Water, batteries, flashlights, and now I’m going to get my grocery shopping done,’’ said Sally Godwin, carrying two large jugs of fresh water out of the store. “I live at the beach, and they always evacuate it the day before. I have to make sure all my little stuff’s taken care of.’’

It is possible Irene will make landfall over the North Carolina coast sometime Saturday, then move to the north near the Chesapeake Bay. However, because such projections can be uncertain, it is also possible Irene could straddle the coast.

Fugate and National Hurricane Center director Bill Read said Irene could cause problems even over open water. New England is particularly vulnerable to heavy rains because the soil is already saturated from summer storms, and that could raise the threat of flash flooding.

If Irene does move into the Mid-Atlantic area, it could threaten plans for dedicating a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. Fugate said officials were discussing whether to hold Sunday’s dedication ceremony. Tens of thousands are expected to attend the event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.