McLean Prepares for Hurricane Irene

The D.C. Metro area will experience tropical storm force winds as Hurricane Irene crosses through Virginia on Saturday, said Gov. Bob McDonnell in a press conference Friday.

As of 2 p.m., the National Weather Service is reporting Hurricane Irene is a Category 2 storm, moving north at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds at 100 mph. The storm is expected to hit the Virginia-North Carolina border Saturday night.

Meanwhile McLean was preparing by shopping.

Kelly Green Kahn, of McLean,  was back at the Chain Bridge Giant Friday afternoon buying more water. She shopped yesterday but decided she needed more for her family.

Shelves were bereft of water in the usual location in the Giant but other customers reported seeing a special water display area in the front of the store.

Pam Lucey, of McLean, knows what to do in the face of a hurricane: host a baby shower.

She emerged from the Giant with bright balloons Friday afternoon. "The show must go on," she laughed.

Earlier at the Anderson Road Safeway, motorists lined up for gas. You want to fill up because if the power goes out, the gas pumps don't work.

At McLean Hardware, customers looking for flashlights found none as they streamed in and out of the popular store.

CVS ran out of flashlights yesterday and still had none today, according to customers.

Here are emergency numbers for Fairfax. Please print them out now and put them on the fridge.

Tips for before, during and after the storm.