Worcester County Ordering Mandatory Evacuation

SNOW HILL, Md. (AP) -- Worcester County is ordering a mandatory evacuation of residents in the area of West Ocean City ahead of Hurricane Irene.

Residents are being asked to evacuate no later than Saturday at 9 a.m. from the communities of Cape Isle of Wight, West Ocean City, Mystic Harbour, Snug Harbor, Assateague Point, Frontier Town Camp Ground, Castaways. No sewer service will be available in the area beginning Saturday afternoon.

County shelters will open at 5 p.m. at Stephen Decatur High School, Stephen Decatur Middle School, Snow Hill High School and Pocomoke High School. Officials were urging residents to use the shelters as a last resort.

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