New York City Begins Preparing For Direct Hit By Hurricane Irene

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 26: Ambulances evacuate patients at Coney Island Hospital due to the impending Hurricane Irene, which is expected to make landfall in New York City sometime late tomorrow or early the next day, on August 26, 2011 in New York City. Coney Island Hospital, which is just two feet above sea level, will be closing and is in the process of evacuating 240 patients, 24 of whom are in critical condition. While Hurricane Irene lost some of its power in open water north of the Bahamas, the storm is still packing 110 mph winds. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)