Hurricane Irene: McDonnell orders closing of some state agencies Friday at 3 pm

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) ordered the closing of state offices at 3:00 Friday afternoon in potential hurricane areas, challenging other employers to do the same so employees can prepare for Hurricane Irene.

The impacted areas include the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Chincoteague, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Poquoson and counties of Isle of Wight, Lancaster, York, Gloucester, Middlesex, Matthews, James City, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, and Accomack.

Here is the press release from the Governor's office on Friday morning:

Governor Bob McDonnell has announced that state offices in areas that will feel the most significant impact from Hurricane Irene will close at 3 p.m. today, Aug. 26. The affected areas are the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk, Chincoteague, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Poquoson and counties of Isle of Wight, Lancaster, York, Gloucester, Middlesex, Matthews, James City, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond and Accomack.

“Citizens, including state employees, should be taking seriously the need to prepare for this significant storm and to ready their families, homes and communities for the possible evacuation and for the impacts of Hurricane Irene,” McDonnell said. “I am sending non-essential state employees home to prepare for the hurricane and to relieve congestion to aid in local evacuations, and I challenge other employers in those affected areas to release non-essential employees to enable them to prepare for Hurricane Irene as well.”

State employees in other areas of the state will not be released early, but are encouraged to watch the storm closely and prepare accordingly.

Updates will continue to be released from the Governor's office as the storm approaches.