ALL EYES SOUTH

East coast residents from Cape Hatteras northward to Cape Cod really need to prepare now. The entire mid-Atlantic is in this storm's future sights.

Watches and warnings will likely go up tonight or tomorrow morning for a significant stretch of the East Coast.

The Hurricane Center's future track takes Isabel just west of Cape Hatteras and inland over Virginia and Pennsylvania. As the storm will be fast moving, much of its force may be maintained well inland.

Model forecasts bring the storm onshore from as far south as Myrtle Beach to as far north as Atlantic City.

For more coverage on the approach of Hurricane Isabel and where she may strike, here's some independent meteorologists I frequent and who are quite good:

WXRISK
Millennium Weather
Tropical Update
NEMAS

Also, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Accuweather out of State College, PA , and The Weather Channel are all resources that can be used as this very dangerous and very powerful hurricane approaches the Eastern Seaboard. The National Weather Service is another tool. It is predicted to weaken slightly, but it could still pack a very significant punch when it strikes the coast.

Please stay tuned to your media and emergency management officials for any information. Oh yes..those emergency kits you were supposed to make for Homeland Security: They can be used for natural disasters too.

I'll be moving and updating this post during the coming days, as this is going to be a major event.

For the State of New Jersey, here's where you can find out where to go and how to get there if Isabel makes a strike on NJ.

For coastal Delaware

For Maryland (Ocean City)

For Virginia

For North Carolina

More Evac maps here.

Long Island Storm Surge maps can be read here, along with an account of the last truly major 'cane to strike New England.

Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center and media outlets on this story that continues to change by the hour.


UPDATE: Flooding rains in the Philadelphia western suburbs.

UPDATE: At 11AM, CNN now reporting that there may be a Navy and Air Force evacuation of aircraft and ships away from the East Coast due to the approaching hurricane.

For people coming inland, Millersville has an inn. I'll find out how many rooms are available.

Isabel is affecting the market: Insurance stocks are down in anticipation of heavy property damage. CNN reporting this now.