New Yorkers are warned to prepare for Hurricane Irene

New Yorkers are getting ready for a possible mauling from Hurricane Irene that will hit the U.S. coast this weekend.New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the United States most populous city was bracing to experience at least tropical storm conditions and flooding starting on Sunday, August 28. Irene could hit Long Island -- which extends due east from the city -- as a Category 2 hurricane.The city was positioning rescue boats and helicopters and working to minimize street flooding and gearing up at hospitals. Evacuations were possible. Bloomberg urged people who live in low-lying areas of the city to plan to move to higher ground.The New York City mass transit system, the nations biggest with 8 million passengers a day, may have to be partly or fully shut down if the storm causes flooding or high winds that could endanger buses, subways and commuter trains.Bloomberg warned a mass transit shut down could last for days.Hurricane watches and warnings were in effect along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to New Jersey. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York declared emergencies for Irene.