Friday, August 26 - 9:40 a.m. - Governor Shumlin's statement on the possible storm to hit Vermont: “Although we hope the storm weakens and moves offshore, Vermonters need to prepare for the possibility that Hurricane Irene hits our state.”

Governor Shumlin and emergency officials say there are several steps residents can take ahead of time to reduce their danger. They include:

• Clearing your yard objects that could become airborne in high winds.
• Stocking up on water, non-perishable food and other supplies to be able to stay at home for up to three days.
• Preparing for power outages by stockpiling flashlights and fresh batteries and a battery powered radio.
• Planning an evacuation route over high ground ahead of time.
• Use text messaging to communicate with family and friends during the storm because it uses less bandwidth than cellphone calls and the messages are more likely to get through.