Cape residents ready for Hurricane Irene

FALMOUTH, Mass. -- Every Steamship Authority Ferry was packed with cars headed off of Martha’s Vineyard on Thursday.

“On the Vineyard, yeah, I was there for Hurricane Bob,” said John McGrail. “We lost power for about a week.”

For those who have lived through a hurricane, preparations are key. Since the Steamship Authority anticipates stopping service sometime Sunday until Monday, most people are planning ahead.

“I want my car to be over here so in case you can’t get cars over at least maybe I can get over,” said one woman.

State officials have their emergency traffic plan ready in case Hurricane Irene wreaks havoc. They want to keep traffic flowing along the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, so the plan is to close some exits and shut down access to Cape Cod from Route 6 and Route 28. If winds exceed 70 miles per hour, officials will shut down both the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges and limit access to Route 6 and Route 28.

“I am really getting ready for, getting batteries and water and all that,” said Carol Gordon.

They’re some extreme measures, but visitors and those who live on the Cape can see why they’re necessary.

“Get off. Get off. If they’re going to close the bridges, get off and play it safe, I really think is a good thing to do,” said Richard Hart.

(Copyright (c) 2011 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)