Emergency preparations are under way all across the Vineyard, as Hurricane Earl crawls up the eastern seaboard, a powerful category four storm. Earl is expected to brush the outer islands along the Carolina coast late Thursday; forecasters are now calling for the storm to pass the Cape and Islands sometime Friday night.

The storm is causing major disruptions at the outset of the busy Labor Day weekend, with harbors being cleared of boats, events being cancelled and visitors being advised to alter their plans if they involve travel to the Island on Friday. The Steamship Authority has already announced that it will run on a trip-by-trip basis as the storm approaches.

A county disaster preparedness meeting will be held on Thursday at noon at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, where officials will make decisions about shelters, road closures and other response initiatives in the face of the storm. Island residents are urged to remain calm and take practical steps to prepare for the storm by clearing their yards of furniture and other loose objects that could become flying missiles in high winds, and stock up on a few days’ worth of nonperishable food and water and medications. Be prepared to lose your electricity; if your power does go out, the number to call at NStar is 1-800-592-2000. Island radio station WMVY at 92.7 FM will broadcast any emergency information. If the storm does hit, shelters will be opened, mainly at Island elementary schools and emergency services will be fully engaged. Access to the hospital is expected to be from County Road in the event that Beach Road is closed.

The county has activated its code red system, a reverse 911 phone call where information is given out through recorded telephone messages. County communications officials said that because not all residents are receiving the code red calls, people are advised to go to the county Web site (dukescounty.org) and sign up for it. If you have an unlisted telephone number or no answering machine, code red will not work for you.

The Gazette will continue to post information on its Web site related to the approach of Hurricane Earl as it becomes available throughout the day.