&lt;div class=&#34;meta &#34;&gt;&lt;span class=&#34;caption-text &#34;&gt;The lower Manhattan skyline is seen behind a sign announces the closure of Brooklyn Bridge park in the Dumbo neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011.  Hurricane Irene opened its assault on the Eastern Seaboard on Saturday by lashing the North Carolina coast with wind as strong as 115 mph &#38;#40;185 kph&#38;#41; and pounding shoreline homes with waves. Farther north, Philadelphia and New York City-area authorities readied a massive shutdown of trains and airports, with 2 million people ordered out of the way.&#38;#40;AP Photo&#38;#47;Mary Altaffer&#38;#41; &#40;AP Photo&#38;#47; Mary Altaffer&#41;&lt;&#47;span&gt;&lt;&#47;div&gt;