26 Aug, 2011
Preparing for the Storm
East coast braces for Irene
WILMINGTON, North Carolina (Reuters) - As North Carolina braced on Friday for a direct hit from Hurricane Irene, cities along the east coast were on alert and millions of beach goers cut short vacations to escape the powerful storm.
With more than 50 million people potentially in Irene's path, residents stocked up on food and water and worked to secure homes, vehicles and boats. States, cities, ports, oil refineries and nuclear plants scrambled to activate emergency plans.
"I filled my tank up with gas in case I need to leave in a hurry or something, and get a lot of food supplies, taking everything out of my yard ... anything that can fly into a window," said Patricia Stapleton of Newport, North Carolina.
Irene lashed the low-lying Bahamas on Thursday and was expected to hit North Carolina on Saturday before heading up the coast to New York and beyond.
Irene weakened slightly early on Friday -- to a Category 2 hurricane from a Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale -- but still was packing winds of up to 110 miles per hour (175 km per hour).
At 5 a.m. EDT, its center was about 420 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
"Some re-intensification is possible today and Irene is expected to be near the threshold between Category Two and Three as it reaches the North Carolina coast," the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Coastal evacuations were under way in North Carolina and were ordered for beach resorts in Virginia, Delaware and Maryland. Airlines began to cut flights at eastern airports, made plans to move aircraft from the region and encouraged travelers to consider postponing trips.
"All the major metropolitan areas along the northeast are going to be impacted," National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read told Reuters Insider. "Being a large hurricane, tropical storm-force winds will extend far inland."
Story and Photo courtesy of news.yahoo.com.
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
Build Your House On The Rock
24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
What does today's Gods Story scripture teach us about preparing for the storms of life?
In today's scripture Jesus tells us that when we do what he tells us, that our foundation is solid and that the storms of life will not destroy us. He also warns us that if we do not do what he tells us, that are foundation is weak and our "house" may crumble in a storm. But what exactly has he told us to do?
When Jesus said this to his followers he had just finished what is known as the "Sermon on the Mount." Matthew dedicated three chapters of his Gospel on this message of Jesus. Take some time to read that message this weekend to dig deeper into what Jesus is telling us.
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Click Here to read the "Sermon on the Mount" on Biblegateway.com.
- Are you experiencing a storm in your life right now? Build your life on the Rock of a relationship with Jesus.
- Have you recently gone through a storm in your life? Thank God for getting you through that storm because of the foundation of your relationship with Jesus.
- Does your life seem relatively calm right now? Thank God for His presence you your life as you continue to build your house on the Rock.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- Do you know someone who is experiencing a devastating storm in their life? Maybe a divorce in their family or the a death or serious illness of a loved one? Maybe the economy has hit a friend's family pretty hard? Maybe someone has moved into you school this year and feels very alone? Spend some time with them this week and allow Jesus to overflow from your life into theirs to bring them encouragement and hope. Talk with them about the Foundation of your life.
- When you are with others this weekend and you hear news stories about Irene talk with them about preparing for the storms of life by building on the Rock of Jesus.
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