Hurricane Irene on the way...like BELLE ?

August 27th 2011 Toms River NJ - So it's 3:10 pm est and many have evacuated by now but many have decided to ride it out.  My prediction so far will be that this storm will be comparable to Hurricane Belle back in 1976.

Belle began as a tropical depression northeast of the Bahamas and strengthened as it moved northward towards New York and New England. Belle became a major hurricane that threatened much of the Eastern coast. However, the storm weakened prior to landfall and struck LI and New York as a Category-1 hurricane, spreading moderate to heavy rainfall from eastern North Carolina to New England. The system evolved into an extratropical cyclone as it passed through New England. Belle caused $100 million in '76 dollars in damage. Well the next 24-30 hours will tell the tale....brace yourselves.