(NECN: Framingham, Mass.) - Rich Serino, Deputy Administrator of FEMA, and Kurt Schwartz, Acting Director of MEMA, join Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for a news conference on Hurricane Earl.
Hurricane Earl has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it heads for the Northeast, and some watches and warnings have been reduced or dropped from Long Island to Maine. The National Hurricane Center says a hurricane warning for the southeast coast of Massachusetts was reduced in size.
But, the warning remains in effect for Cape Code, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Earl's top sustained winds have decreased to about 85 miles an hour.
As soon as the storm passes, emergency officials will be in community. Rapid assessment teams will be deployed to the Cape to assess needs and impacts from the hurricane -- whether it is to clear debris, help emergency communications or provide other types of support.
On the Vineyard and Nantucket, assessment teams are already in place.
