Earl was downgraded to a category three hurricane today, with sustained winds of 125 mph, and is expected to pass near the North Carolina Outer Banks tonight, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for the U.S. East Coast from Bogue Inlet, North Carolina, northeast to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including Pamlico and Albermarle Sounds.  A hurricane watch is also in place for areas north of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Henlopen in Delaware and from Westport to Plymouth in Massachusetts.

Having clear, actionable plans in place before a hurricane strikes can help an organization minimize damage to people and property and recover as quickly as possible, according to Marsh Risk Consulting.

For properties with possible exposure to hurricane force winds, emergency preparations should be pursued in a timely manner as defined by your emergency plans and pursuant to the latest NHC advisories.  For properties with possible exposure to tropical force winds, emergency plans should be engaged in accordance with prior risk assessments and pursuant to the latest NHC advisories. The situation should be monitored on an ongoing basis for wind speed increases.