Port Of Baltimore Prepares For Irene

DUNDALK, Md. (AP) -- Containers and cars are continuing to come off ships at the Port of Baltimore, but shippers are taking precautions as Hurricane Irene approaches.

Extra lines are holding ships to the docks and shippers are working with the Coast Guard to make sure everything is tied down properly before Irene brings high winds and heavy rains this weekend.

Empty shipping containers, for example, are not being stored more than two high because they are lighter and can be blown away more easily.

Irene began lashing the East Coast with rain on Friday and was expected to affect shorelines from the Carolinas to Massachusetts over the weekend. At least 65 million people could be affected in cities from Washington and Baltimore to New York and Boston.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)