County officials are urging residents to stock up on extra food, batteries, flashlights and battery-operated radios in preparation for Hurricane Irene.

Many residents across the Hudson Valley spent yesterday flocking to stores, cleaning out basements and stocking up on sandbags.The village of Nyack is now gearing up for Hurricane Irene's fury by putting large slabs of concrete behind the public works garage to create a retaining wall to prevent any possible flooding.

The village is still recovering from the severe rains that hit this summer.

Crews also filled thousands of sandbags and are offering them to homeowners who need protection from floodwaters.