Va. governor declares state of emergency for Hurricane Earl

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has declared a state of emergency to help prepare for Hurricane Earl.

The governor’s declaration allows additional resources and staff to be positioned ahead of the storm.

Weather forecasters say the category 3 hurricane could follow a track that takes it past Virginia’s eastern shore.

McDonnell says because forecasters are still uncertain about the storm’s path, he decided to issue the declaration Wednesday as a precautionary move.

The weather service has issued a hurricane watch for Chesapeake, Norfolk, Northhampton and Virginia Beach.