Lessons Katrina can teach us for Irene - Hurricane Katrina.

Lessons Katrina can teach us for Irene - Hurricane Katrina.

While residents and businesses along the East Coast prepare for hurricane Irene, it's a time to think about lessons learned from previous hurricanes that we can use now.

Number one on the list, is of course Hurricane Katrina.

Ray Nagin, who was the mayor of New Orleans during Katrina, knows firsthand about what it's like to face Mother Nature at her worst. Nagin, who has a new book out called "Katrina's Secrets," joined "The Early Show" from Metairie, La. to offer some pointers to officials and residents. Read More

Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Status, Irene Status, Hurricane Irene Hoboken Nj, Hurricane Irene Information

Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Status, Irene Status, Hurricane Irene Hoboken Nj, Hurricane Irene Information

New England braces for slap from Hurricane Irene

While some residents flocked to the supermarket for bottled water and nonperishable food, others rushed to the local hardware store as Hurricane Irene churned northward.

"Our number of customers has tripled in the last day or two as people actually said, 'Wow, this thing is going to happen,'" said Jack Gurnon, owner of a hardware store in Boston's affluent Beacon Hill neighborhood.

State officials throughout the region moved into high gear to prepare for expected flooding, downed trees and possible downed powerlines by calling up members of the National Guard and putting state police officers on standby.

In Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency, joining Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Flashlights, batteries and tape for windows were flying off shelves, but Gurnon said people were worried about flooding and had been scooping up sump pumps as well.

Heavy rainfall, more than 10 inches in some locations, is likely to pummel southern New England on Saturday and Sunday, along with the possibility of coastal flooding, according to the National Weather Service.Read More