Mayor Urging Residents To Pay Attention To Hurricane Joaquin

Forecasters say Hurricane Joaquin has strengthened to ``an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane.''

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday afternoon that additional strengthening is expected over the next 24 hours, as the storm moves past the Bahamas, bringing winds, heavy rain, dangerous surf and significant storm surge.

There is also a possibility that the storm could be a threat to Southern New England early next week.  Mayor Jon Mitchell is asking residents to pay attention to the storm, and don't panic.

"If you've got a generator and want to fill it up, well do that, it makes sense.  But people shouldn't be rushing to the grocery store and buying batteries jet yet, I wouldn't recomend that.  What I do recommend that people do is to stay informed."

Mitchell says he's already met with city department heads to discuss storm preparations, and he's been in contact with the state's emergency management agency.

Mitchell says his office is also researching options, should the hurricane strike New Bedford on Tuesday, Preliminary Election Day.