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30/08/2011
FOC Advises Britons Trapped By Irene
The British Foreign Office has issued advice for any of its citizens trapped in the US Hurricane Irene.
The east coast of America was ravaged in recent days by the Category 3 hurricane Irene, claiming over 40 lives and leaving many areas still without power.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Tueday issued advice for British nationals caught up in the storm, telling them to follow the advice of local authorities – and leave the area if advised.
"Several major airports on the US east coast have been affected by closures but some are re-opening on Monday 29th August. [Check the] Federal Aviation Administration website for updates and check with your airline or tour operator," an FOC spokesman said.
Transatlantic airlines have begun to resume normal service on Tuesday, with the thousands of Britons stranded in the US expected to soon be able to get home.
As many as 10,000 Britons are thought to have been affected after the storm led to the cancellation of over 6,000 flights on Sunday.
British Airways and Virgin are putting on extra flights but BA warned delays would take "a few days" to resolve.
As cities and towns along the East Coast begin to recover from the hurricane, US President Barak Obama asked Americans to also reflect on the six-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which fell on Tuesday.
"Six years ago today, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, upending families and ravaging communities – and no one will forget the tragic events of those days. But what's required of us is more than remembrance – what's required of us is our continued efforts to make sure that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast fully recover, and to make sure that our response to such disasters is the best it can possibly be.
"Today is a reminder of not just the immediate devastation that can be caused by these storms, but the long term needs of communities impacted by disasters – whether in Mississippi or Alabama, Tennessee or Missouri, North Dakota, or the east coast states impacted by Hurricane Irene. This Administration will stand by those communities until the work is done."
(DW/BMcC)
The east coast of America was ravaged in recent days by the Category 3 hurricane Irene, claiming over 40 lives and leaving many areas still without power.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Tueday issued advice for British nationals caught up in the storm, telling them to follow the advice of local authorities – and leave the area if advised.
"Several major airports on the US east coast have been affected by closures but some are re-opening on Monday 29th August. [Check the] Federal Aviation Administration website for updates and check with your airline or tour operator," an FOC spokesman said.
Transatlantic airlines have begun to resume normal service on Tuesday, with the thousands of Britons stranded in the US expected to soon be able to get home.
As many as 10,000 Britons are thought to have been affected after the storm led to the cancellation of over 6,000 flights on Sunday.
British Airways and Virgin are putting on extra flights but BA warned delays would take "a few days" to resolve.
As cities and towns along the East Coast begin to recover from the hurricane, US President Barak Obama asked Americans to also reflect on the six-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which fell on Tuesday.
"Six years ago today, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, upending families and ravaging communities – and no one will forget the tragic events of those days. But what's required of us is more than remembrance – what's required of us is our continued efforts to make sure that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast fully recover, and to make sure that our response to such disasters is the best it can possibly be.
"Today is a reminder of not just the immediate devastation that can be caused by these storms, but the long term needs of communities impacted by disasters – whether in Mississippi or Alabama, Tennessee or Missouri, North Dakota, or the east coast states impacted by Hurricane Irene. This Administration will stand by those communities until the work is done."
(DW/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
